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Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, said gay people should be able to serve in the US military, in an apparent shift from his previous stance on the issue.
When asked by reporters Thursday if gays should serve in the military, the former Fox News host and National Guard captain replied, “Yes,” Politico reported.
Hegseth, who served tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay as an infantry officer, previously called policies allowing openly gay people to serve part of a “Marxist,” social justice agenda.
In his 2024 book “The War on Warriors,” Hegseth wrote that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was a “gateway” and a “camouflage” for cultural changes that have undermined military effectiveness.
He has advocated for exiling military leadership who enforce diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives prioritizing social justice and blamed the “woke military” for the armed services’ recruiting crisis.
The shift comes as Hegseth recently praised women as some of the military’s “greatest warriors” and said his previous comments were “misconstrued.”
Hegseth has faced another battle in the confirmation process as his suitability for defense secretary has come into question and allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking have surfaced, which he and former colleagues have denied.
In the past week, his confirmation appears to be on more solid ground as pressure mounts for GOP senators to support him. He continues working through Washington to secure swing votes from those who haven’t said whether they would vote “yes” on him — such as Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
Collins said he showed more “openness” on women in combat and Ernst called him “very supportive of women in the military,” according to the Politico report.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Hegseth’s recent explanations have helped his chances of being confirmed.
“Like President Trump, Pete wants to see the U.S. military focus on being the world’s strongest fighting force — not on cultural and social issues,” Brian Hughes, a Trump spokesperson said.
Trump has lauded his nominee as “tough, smart and a true believer in America First.”
