In an effort to secure his nomination for Secretary of Defense by President-elect Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth is moderating his earlier outspoken views on LGBT personnel and women in combat roles.
The Washington Examiner reported that Hegseth, who is a former Army National Guard veteran and previous host on Fox News, has shifted his positions as he prepares for Senate confirmation hearings, where he needs broad support.
In his book, "The War on Warriors," he criticized the integration of gay personnel into the military, associating it with a "Marxist" agenda, and regarded the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" in 2011 as a factor that weakened military efficacy.
Recently, Hegseth has distanced himself from his previous views during his visits to Capitol Hill. He openly supported the presence of gays in the military in a response to reporters following his meeting with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), succinctly affirming their role with a “Yes.”
On Fox News, during an interview with Sean Hannity, Hegseth also refuted his former opposition to women in combat roles. He lauded the contributions of female military members, acknowledging them as some of the nation's "greatest warriors."
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) highlighted a meeting with Hegseth where they discussed his previous comments on women in combat roles.
Collins noted that Hegseth seems willing to adapt his stance, an issue she considers significant.
Another key Republican, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), after her meetings with Hegseth, expressed support for his revised position regarding women serving in the military.
She emphasized Hegseth's commitment to appoint a high-ranking official to oversee and maintain standards and address sexual assault in the armed forces.
Despite his efforts to reform his image, Hegseth faces accusations from a 2017 incident of sexual assault, which he claims was consensual, along with claims regarding alcohol abuse and mismanagement of veterans' groups, all of which he denies.
A spokesperson for the transition team elucidated that Hegseth, mirroring President Trump’s vision, seeks to refocus the military on being a formidable force, where service eligibility is determined by qualifications, not quotas.
The upcoming Congress sees the Republicans with a 53-to-47 majority, which means Hegseth's confirmation could falter with just a few Republican defections if Democrats oppose uniformly.
Hegseth's recent engagements on Capitol Hill, however, appear to be enhancing his chances of securing the needed majority support.
With growing backing from key figures like Senator Ernst and the perceptible softening of his earlier controversial views, Hegseth’s prospects seem to be improving as the Senate confirmation hearings approach, an event that will decide the future leadership of the Pentagon.
