Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing stiff criticism from Democrats—but most Republicans back him.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, has publicly faced senators for the first time.

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, came under fire during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday as the top Democrat on the Senate committee accused him of lacking the "character and composure" to lead the U.

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, endured fierce Democratic grilling over everything from his inexperience,

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Friday that he would vote to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.

During testimony in the United States Senate on Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, former Fox News personality turned president-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Defense, refused to answer a question regarding whether he’d follow an order from Trump to shoot at demonstrators.

Lawmakers will grill the 44-year-old Hegseth and Bondi, 59, before the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, respectively, starting Jan. 14.

The Secretary of Defense of the United States is one of the most important jobs in the entire world. The person nominated for this role needs to be someone of the highest character and with the credentials and experience to match.

Pete Hegseth faced an important test on Tuesday — but he didn't just have to prove himself to the senators who immediately began sparring over his nomination as defense secretary.

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, endured fierce Democratic grilling over everything from his inexperience,