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

During his opening statements, Hegesth said that the hearing was for all people who had served in the U.S. military.

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.

Pete Hegseth, nominated by Trump for defence secretary, pledges to instil a 'warrior culture' at the Pentagon amid controversy during his confirmation hearing.

Hegseth won't just have to prove himself to the senators who immediately began sparring over his nomination as Defense Secretary.

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

Controversial Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth faced tough questions from senators Tuesday about his views on women serving in combat and his qualifications to lead the Defense Department as confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's cabinet picks get underway.