Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images/File)
Trump has said in recent weeks that he hopes to purchase Greenland from Denmark, referred to Canada as the U.S.’s "51st state" and outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Canada’s "governor," and he has also vowed to "demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly and without question."
DEM SENATOR'S 'LIES AND STUPIDITY' AT HEGSETH HEARING ROASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA: 'CLOWN SHOW'
Hegseth brushed off Hirono’s question during the hearing, saying, "Trump never strategically tips his hand."
"I would never publicly state one way or another to direct the orders of the president," Hegseth responded.
Viewers of the exchange erupted on social media after Hirono’s question, including labeling her the "least intelligent Member of Congress" and others calling the grilling a "clown show."
"Hirono was playing judge, jury, and executioner based on lies and stupidity," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote in a post on X.
Hegseth’s opening remarks during the hearing were interrupted by a handful of protesters as they shouted at the nominee about the war in Israel and called him a "Christian Zionist" and a "misogynist."
"Veterans are committing suicide and are homeless, but we send money to bomb children in Gaza," one female protester in fatigues shouts as she's escorted from the hearing, Fox News Digital video shows.
At least three protesters were seen being hauled out of the hearing in zip ties or with their hands behind their backs.
"You are a misogynist," one protester shouts at Hegseth.
HEGSETH INTERRUPTED BY MULTIPLE PROTESTERS DURING SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING
"Thank you for figuratively and literally having my back," Hegseth said after he was interrupted, returning to his opening statement. "I pledge to do the same for all of you."
Capitol Police officers remove a demonstrator during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on Jan. 14, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas," Hegseth responded.
"And the third protester said something about 20 years of genocide. I assume that's our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you think our troops are committing genocide in Iraq and Afghanistan?" Cotton continued.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images/File)
Hegseth pushed back that his argument related to women serving in the military focuses on military standards not eroding.
"Senator, I appreciate your comments. And I would point out I've never disparaged women serving in the military. I respect every single female service member that has put on the uniform, past and present. My critiques, senator, recently and in the past, and from personal experience, have been instances where I've seen standards lowered," he responded.
PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE HASN'T HEARD FROM WEST POINT SINCE EMPLOYEE 'ERROR' DENYING HIS ACCEPTANCE
Ernst, a veteran and Republican who initially did not publicly support Hegseth’s nomination, also questioned the nominee’s views on women in the military, saying he had a platform to make his opinions "very clear."
"I want to know, again, let's make it very clear for everyone here today, as secretary of defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?" Ernst asked.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. (Reuters/Leah Millis/File)
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., hit Hegseth with a handful of personal questions, including the timing of his extramarital affairs, as Hegseth's 7-year-old daughter sat feet away during the hearing.
"I want to return to the incident that you referenced a minute ago that occurred in Monterey, California, in October 2017. At that time, you were still married to your second wife, correct?" Kaine asked, referring to a 2017 accusation of sexual assault against Hegseth. The nominee was investigated and cleared of wrongdoing.
"I believe so," Hegseth responded.
"And you had just fathered a child by a woman who would later become your third wife," Kaine pressed. Hegseth has been married three times.
"Senator, I was falsely charged, and I [was] fully investigated and completely cleared," Hegseth said.
Kaine shot back, "So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime? That’s your definition of cleared?"
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"You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife," he continued before citing that Hegseth's daughter was in the audience. "I am shocked that you would stand here and say you are completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before?"
"Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God," Hegseth responded.
"She’s 7 years old, and I am glad she’s here," he added.
Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller, Aubrie Spady and Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-5-moments-from-pete-hegseths-senate-confirmation-hearing