(Screenshot of video stream provided by Sheehy’s press office.)
Newly sworn U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, a Montana Republican, submitted a letter of support from 90 soldiers on behalf of Department of Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and asked him serious and cheeky questions during his confirmation hearing Monday.
Sheehy started off with a pitch into culture wars.
“How many genders are there? Tough one,” Sheehy said.
“Senator, there are two genders,” Hegseth said.
Sheehy has joked about his name before, and he did so in response: “I know that well. I’m a Sheehy (she/he), so I’m on board.”
“How many pushups can you do?” Sheehy asked. Five sets of 47 that morning, Hegseth said.
“What is the diameter of the rifle round fired out of an M4A1 rifle?” Sheehy asked. Hegseth replied, 5.56 mm.
In his first foray onto the national stage as a sworn politician, Sheehy said Hegseth had his support given his commitment to soldiers on the front lines and a strong military.
“You’re representing qualifications that show you understand what the war fighter deals with every single day on the battlefield,” Sheehy said. “You understand what happens on the front line, where our troops will be.”
Sheehy, a former U.S. Navy Seal, asked the questions during the nearly-four-hour confirmation hearing of the veteran-turned-Fox-News-host and cabinet nominee of President-elect Donald Trump.
Senators asked questions that highlighted contrasting parts of Hegseth’s life and his ability to lead, including his stance on women in the U.S. military, States Newsroom reported.
Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017, according to national reports. He was not charged and has denied the allegation.
Among Sheehy’s questions were how Hegseth would improve the U.S. Navy, which he said is a “decades long pursuit” but necessary to compete with China.
Hegseth said shipbuilding is critical, and he is grateful Trump has made it a priority. He said the U.S. needs to “reinvigorate our defense industrial base” in the video clip, sent by Sheehy’s press office in a news release.
“If we’re going to defend our interests, our allies, and put America first, we’re going to have to be able to project power,” Hegseth said.
Sheehy said Hegseth’s answers to his questions demonstrated his readiness for the job and top priority to have the backs of soldiers.
“When people like us screw up, they don’t come home,” Sheehy said.
Sheehy said Hegseth had his support even though he might be an unconventional pick.
“I don’t think any board in the world would have hired Steve Jobs or Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg when they founded their companies, either,” Sheehy said.
The American Medical Association has said gender identity and sex are on a spectrum and it is working to educate health care organizations and policymakers on the topic.
The letter of support from soldiers was not available from Sheehy’s office at press time.