Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, faced tough questions about the war in Ukraine during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 14.
Hegseth’s opening remarks notably excluded mention of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting a senator to ask whether this omission signaled a potential policy shift.
"Is that code for 'we’re going to abandon Ukraine?'" the senator inquired.
Hegseth responded: "We know who the aggressor is. We know who the good guy is. We’d like to see (the resolution of the war be) as advantageous for the Ukrainians as possible. But that war needs to come to an end."
The committee is expected to vote on Hegseth’s confirmation as early as Monday, with the full Senate taking up the decision afterward, according to Reuters.
Hegseth’s nomination in November sparked widespread debate, with Pentagon insiders questioning his qualifications for the role.
If confirmed, he will oversee 1.3 million active-duty troops, more than 750,000 civilian employees, and an $850 billion budget. He will also be responsible for shaping U.S. defense policy and engaging with international allies.
Hegseth, a former infantry captain in the Army National Guard with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, has since built a career in conservative media. He became a prominent figure on Fox News and served as the head of the organization Concerned Veterans for America, advocating for reduced U.S. commitments abroad, including to NATO.
Isolationist Views
According to The Kyiv Independent, Hegseth’s views on foreign policy lean heavily toward isolationism.
His stance has raised concerns among both Democrats and Republicans about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine and other NATO allies under his leadership.
In June 2024, Hegseth published a book titled The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, further solidifying his role as a conservative commentator.
His political career has included an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2012.
