President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, faced a Senate grilling on Tuesday as lawmakers determine whether they will vote in support of the nominee. 

Hegseth faced intense questioning from Democrats in his Armed Services Committee hearing, including regarding his previous comments related to women serving in military combat roles, and was also interrupted by protesters who disturbed the hearing at some points. 

Trump nominated Hegseth back in November, just days after his decisive election win over Vice President Kamala Harris, lauding him “as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country.”

After Hegseth wrapped up his hours-long hearing, Fox News Digital compiled the top five moments. 

PETE HEGSETH DELIVERS OPENING STATEMENT AT SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING

Hegseth’s emotional opening remarks 

Hegseth became emotional during his opening remarks on Tuesday morning while thanking his wife and other family members for supporting him through the nomination process. 

“Thank you to my incredible wife, Jennifer, who has changed my life and been with me throughout this entire process. I love you, sweetheart, and I thank God for you,” he said, beginning to choke up. 

“And as Jenny and I pray together every morning, all glory, regardless of the outcome, belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “His grace and mercy abounds each day. May His will be done.”

HEGSETH WAS ‘INCREDIBLY TALENTED, BATTLE-PROVEN LEADER,’ MILITARY EVALUATIONS SHOW

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, married his wife Jennifer in 2013, with the couple sharing a blended family of seven children. 

“Thank you to my father, Brian and Mother Penny, as well as our entire family, including our seven wonderful kids: Gunner, Jackson, Peter Boone, Kensington, Luke, Rex…Gwendolyn, their future safety and security is in all of our hands,” he said.

Sen. Hirono claims Hegseth would lead a military invasion of Greenland if confirmed

Democratic Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono was slammed on social media Tuesday during the hearing for asking Hegseth if he would lead a military invasion of Greenland if confirmed as the secretary of defense. 

“[The] President elect has attacked our allies in recent weeks, refusing to rule out using military force to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal and threatening to take to make Canada the 51st state. Would you carry out an order from President Trump to seize Greenland, a territory of our NATO ally Denmark, by force? Or would you comply with an order to take over the Panama Canal?” Hirono asked on Tuesday. 

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 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 following 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.

Hearing erupts into protests

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 both 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 wearing fatigues shouted as she was escorted from the hearing, Fox News Digital video shows. 

At least three protesters were seen being hauled out of the hearing in zipties or with their hands behind their backs. 

“You are a misogynist,” one protester shouted 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.”

US Capitol Police officers remove a demonstrator during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, is portraying his lack of high-level management experience as an asset, saying in prepared testimony for his confirmation hearing that he’d be a “change agent” with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty Images)

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked Hegseth about the protesters during his hearing, including regarding the war in Israel that has been ongoing since 2023. 

“Another protester, and I think this one was a member of Code Pink, which, by the way, is a Chinese communist front group these days, said that you support Israel’s war in Gaza. I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well,” Cotton said. 

US Capitol Police officers remove a demonstrator during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, is portraying his lack of high-level management experience as an asset, saying in prepared testimony for his confirmation hearing that he’d be a “change agent” with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (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. 

Protester escorted from Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing to serve as secretary of defense.  (Fox Digital )

“Senator, I do not. I think … our troops, as you know, as so many in this committee know, did the best they could with what they had. … And tragically, the outcome we saw in Afghanistan under the Biden administration put a stain on that, but it doesn’t put a stain on what those men and women did in uniform, as you know full well, Senator,” Hegseth responded. 

PETE HEGSETH HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIERY HEARING ON HIS RECORD, PLANS TO SHAKE UP PENTAGON

Hegseth repeatedly grilled on support of women in combat roles 

The nominee was repeatedly grilled by senators regarding his previous comments on women serving in combat roles, including by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Joni Ernst. 

“You say we need moms, but not in the military, especially in combat units. So specific to Senator Cotton’s question, because Senator Cotton was giving you layups to differentiate between different types of combat. Specifically as secretary, would you take any action to reinstitute the combat arms exclusion for female service members knowing full well you have hundreds of women doing that job right now,” Gillibrand asked. 

Her question referred to Hegseth’s 2024 book, which states: “Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially not in combat units.”

WASHINGTON – MARCH 15: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., leaves the Senate Democrats lunch in the Mansfield Room in the Capitol on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. ( (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images))

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 initially 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. 

Pete Hegseth, military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Hegseth is portraying his lack of high-level management experience as an asset, saying in prepared testimony for his confirmation hearing that he’d be a “change agent” with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)

Hegseth again redirected the conversation back to his concerns over ensuring military standards remain high. 

“Senator, first of all, thank you for your service. As we discussed extensively as well, and my answer is yes, exactly the way that you caveated it. Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat roles given the standards remain high, and we’ll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded,” Hegseth responded. 

Ernst also pressed Hegseth on what efforts he would take to combat sexual assault within the ranks, noting it is one of her top three concerns surrounding the military. 

GOP SENATOR FLIPS SCRIPT ON DEMS FOR ‘HYPOCRITICAL’ GRILLING OF HEGSETH: ‘SO RIDICULOUS’

“A priority of mine has been combating sexual assault in the military and making sure that all of our service members are treated with dignity and respect. This has been so important. Senator Gillibrand and I have worked on this, and we were able to get changes made to the uniform code of military justice to make sure that we have improvements, and on how we address the tragic and life altering, issues of rape, sexual assault. It will demand time and attention from the Pentagon under your watch, if you are confirmed,” Ernst said. 

“So, as secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?” she asked. 

Hegseth said that, as they had previously discussed, he would appoint an official to such a role. 

Dem Sen. Kaine grills SecDef nominee over infidelity in front of young daughter 

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) speaks with reportersREUTERS/Leah Millis

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., hit Hegseth with a handful of personal questions, including the timing of his extramarital affairs, while Hegseth’s seven-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 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?”

“You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife,” he continued, before citing Hegseth’s daughter was in the crowd. “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 seven 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. 

WASHINGTON —  The Senate could vote Tuesday on the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-led bill that mandates federal detention for immigrants who are charged with minor crimes and grants broad enforcement powers to states.

It passed the House earlier this month as the first bill taken up by the new, Republican-controlled Congress and moved forward in the Senate with significant support from Democrats.

The bill’s advancement illustrates the new willingness by more Democrats to consider conservative immigration policies after losing favor with voters on border security, a front-line issue in the November presidential election.

Immigrant rights groups and other opponents have warned that the bill would violate due process rights and be extremely costly to the federal government.

What happened to Laken Riley?

The bill is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered last year in Athens, Ga., by a Venezuelan immigrant who had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. Border Patrol agents released him, like many migrants, with temporary permission to stay in the country.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, had previously been cited in Georgia with misdemeanor shoplifting from Walmart and was arrested in New York for driving a scooter without a license and with a child who wasn’t wearing a helmet. Supporters of the bill say federal authorities should have detained Ibarra after he was charged with those crimes.

In November, Ibarra was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Allyson and John Phillips, Riley’s mother and stepfather, wrote in a statement that the bill has their full support.

“Laken would have been 23 on January 10th,” they wrote. “There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill.”

What would the Laken Riley Act do?

The Laken Riley Act has three significant provisions: to require detention of immigrants convicted of certain crimes; to authorize state governments to sue the federal government over its handling of individual immigrants; and to give states the power to demand that the State Department stop issuing visas for countries that refuse to accept the return of deported nationals.

“If you came into the U.S. illegally and then you chose to commit a crime against Americans — whether that’s against persons or property — on U.S. soil, you should go to the front of line when it comes to detention and removal,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) wrote on X.

The bill would require immigration agents to take into custody people who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting. It would override the current discretion afforded to federal officials to prioritize the detention of people with violent criminal records.

The legislation requires detention if a person is even charged with theft-related crimes. That means someone could be deported before getting the chance to defend themselves in court.

The bill also gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government over alleged mishandling of people in its custody, overriding the longstanding broad authority of the federal government over immigration matters. State officials could get a court to instruct immigration agents to track down people it had released from detention.

States would also be empowered to insert themselves into U.S. foreign policy matters. Some countries refuse to accept back their citizens whom the U.S. attempts to deport. The bill would allow state attorneys general to sue the State Department to stop visas from being issued for any country refusing to accept deportations.

What are the political and legal ramifications?

Opponents say the law would lead to chaos in federal courts and the separation of longtime residents from their U.S. citizen family members as they are detained indefinitely.

“I don’t think that people understood what was in the bill when they were cosponsoring it,” said Kerri Talbot, executive director of the advocacy group Immigration Hub, who works with Congress to develop policy.

Jason Houser, who was chief of staff for Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2021 to 2023, said the legislation would force federal agencies to divert manpower from the most dangerous offenders.

“If this bill is enacted, you will see less individuals in detention that are violent convicted criminals than you do today,” he said, noting that the federal government has a finite amount of resources, detention beds and staff.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it would need more than $3 billion to detain the 60,000 people it had identified to meet bill’s parameters.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the left-leaning American Immigration Council said the visa provision raises serious constitutional and international relations concerns with potentially sweeping ramifications for the U.S. economy.

“You could see [Texas Atty. Gen.] Ken Paxton suing to block all H-1B visas from China. You could see somebody trying to prevent all business tourism from India,” Reichlin-Melnick said. “The prospect of 677 different federal district court judges around the country having the power to order the secretary of State to impose sweeping visa bans on other countries threatens to upend our system of government, giving states and the judiciary more power over diplomacy and immigration than the federal government itself.”

What is its history in Congress?

The Laken Riley Act passed the House last week, 264-159, with 48 Democrats in support. Among them were seven Democrats from California, including Reps. George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce), Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Derek Tran (D-Garden Grove), who flipped seats previously held by Republicans.

Senators voted 82-10 on Monday to take up consideration of the measure. California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff, both Democrats, did not vote.

In an interview Sunday on NBC, Padilla said he would vote against the bill in its current form.

“It opens the doors for people simply being charged — without a conviction — to be detained and deported,” he said. “That includes minors, that includes Dreamers, that’s [for] shoplifting a pack of bubble gum. There has to be more of a focus on a piece of legislation like this.”

When the bill was first introduced in the House last year, it passed 251-170, with 10 fewer Democrats in support. The Senate, which then held a slim majority, declined to take it up for consideration.

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he was hoping for a robust debate and the ability to offer improvements on the bill.

“Americans deserve for us to debate the issue seriously, including by considering amendments from the Democratic side,” he said. “We’re going to ask our Republican colleagues to allow for debate and votes on amendments.”