Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth put a quick stop to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) line of questioning during Tuesday morning’s Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing, prompting laughter from around the room.
Warren — who spent the majority of her time falsely conflating Hegseth’s comments criticizing the placement of women in direct combat roles with opposition to women serving in the military in any capacity — attempted to corner the decorated Army veteran with a hypothetical question about what he might do, assuming he is confirmed, after eventually leaving the Defense Department.
WATCH:
WARREN: "You are quite sure every General who serves should not go directly into the defense industry for 10 years but you're not willing to make that same pledge?"
HEGSETH: "I'm not a General, Senator." pic.twitter.com/lGJQGhUWdS
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 14, 2025
Noting that Hegseth has previously supported the notion that retired generals should wait ten years before seeking employment in the defense industry, Warren pressed him on whether he would impose a similar waiting period on himself once he left the Defense Department.
“But the question I have for you on this is will you put your money where your mouth is and agree that when you leave this job you will not work for the defense industry for 10 years?” Warren asked him.
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“Senator, it’s not even a question I’ve thought about,” Hegseth replied, but indicated that he would review the applicable law before making any such decision.
“You can think about it right now,” Warren suggested.
“I would consult with the president about what the policy should be,” Hegseth replied.
“In other words, you are quite sure that every general who serves should not go directly into the defense industry for 10 years, but you’re not willing to make that same pledge?” Warren challenged him a second time.
“I’m not a general, Senator,” Hegseth shot back, prompting laughter around the room.
Warren appeared flustered as she paused, collected herself, and continued: “You’ll be the one, let us just be clear, in charge of the generals.”
