Dem senators skewer Pete Hegseth over his ‘denigrating’ views on women in the military

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Democratic senators skewered Pete Hegseth over his views on women in the military, warning that he would “have to change” if he is confirmed as defense secretary. Hegseth has previously said that women should not serve in combat roles, they have made fighting “more complicated,” and that women “cannot physically meet the same standards as men.” “You will have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don’t know if you are capable,” Gillibrand, who has been an outspoken voice for ending sexual assault in the military, told Hegseth in a fiery exchange. open image in gallery Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Jeanne Shaheen challenged Hegseth over his views on women in the military “Why should women in our military believe that they would have a fair shot and an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks if, on the one hand, you say that women are not competent, they make our military less effective, and on the other hand, you say, ‘Oh no, now that I’ve been nominated to be the secretary of defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military?’” Shaheen asked. Warren referred to a recent comment Hegseth made on a podcast where he said the nation’s military “should not have women in combat roles.” “What extraordinary event happened in that 32-day period that made you change the core values you had expressed for the preceding 12 years?” “I’ve heard of death bed conversions.