Sen. John Barrasso came out in support of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief, calling him a “strong nominee.”
Mr. Hegseth, an Army combat veteran, was set to be on Capitol Hill Thursday with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance to meet with Republican senators.
Mr. Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, and rising No. 2 Senate Republican was the first to meet with the defense secretary nominee. He said the two had an “excellent discussion about the need for America’s military to remain the best in the world.”
“That means taking care of our service members, equipping them with the latest technology and focusing on making our military the most lethal force on the planet,” Mr. Barrasso said in a statement. “Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power — not the current administration’s woke political agenda.”
He said he looks “forward to Pete’s hearing.”
Mr. Hegseth’s nomination was one of the first Trump Cabinet picks to raise questions about whether he has the right qualifications.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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