Hegseth says he will be a “change agent” and a “warrior” as Republicans demand new and strong leadership at the Pentagon.

During an opening statement repeatedly interrupted by protesters, Pete Hegseth said that he will remove politics from the Pentagon if named secretary of defense.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Defense Department, plans to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would like to restore a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon,

AT HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING on Tuesday, defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth pledged to “restore the warrior ethos.” He told the Senate Armed Services Committee: “When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.”

Pete Hegseth vowed to restore “warrior ethos” to the military Tuesday even as President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial Defense Secretary nominee faced tough grilling from Democrats at a Senate confirmation hearing.

Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign” as he portrayed himself as unfairly attacked.

The Trump Pentagon nominee is likely to face sharp questioning at his Senate confirmation hearing about his past and his qualifications.