Hegseth 'doing a great job': top Republican Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., tells reporters Pete Hegseth 'will be confirmed.'

Awkward exchanges about the defense secretary hopeful’s past were plentiful as Democrats went after the first embattled Trump pick to face a confirmation hearing.

The nominee for Secretary of Defense wore his patriotism on his sleeve during his confirmation hearing — and his belt, his socks, and his pocket square.

Hegseth was cool in the face of this unhinged questioning. They made him look good today,” said Scott Jennings on CNN.

President-elect Donald Trump chose Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense because he’s a combat veteran and change agent who isn’t afraid to take on the vital job of rebuilding the U.S. military from woke to lethal. He is the right person for the job, and I fully support him as our next secretary of defense.

Democrats say Hegseth’s lack of experience, comments about women and Black troops, and allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct make him unfit to serve. Some takeaways from the hearing:

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. speaks at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be Defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington,

JACK SMITH’S MIDNIGHT RIDE — Six days before President-elect DONALD TRUMP is due to be sworn as the victor of the 2024 election, special counsel JACK SMITH’s report into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election is finally here.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) left the Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday after a contentious questioning of Donald Trump nominee Pete Hegseth. As with many women on the committee, Gillibrand had questions about Hegseth's past stated opposition to women in the military.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – It’s the second day of confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees on Capitol Hill. Secretary of State nominee Florida Senator Marco Rubio and the nominee for attorney general Pam Bondi are scheduled Wednesday.

Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will publicly face senators on Tuesday for the first time after weeks of privately pushing back on criticism over his qualifications and personal past.

Now, they will go before the committees overseeing the agencies that Trump wants them to run. Throughout the audience for Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing are cadres of men wearing clothing expressing support for veterans or service in the ...