Pete Hegseth’s views on women in combat were a matter of public record long before the Senate Armed Services Committee heard his case to become Donald Trump’s Defense secretary. Women are “life-givers,

Pete Hegseth has dismissed the role of women in the military in past interviews and in his own writing. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said during a November appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for Defense secretary, faced criticism for his past comments about women in combat.

Defense nominee Pete Hegseth faces questions about how he'd treat female soldiers, at a time when the armed forces are struggling with recruitment and with reducing sexual assault.

Defense-secretary nominee Pete Hegseth said during his confirmation hearing that he agreed women make important contributions to the military but his concerns were about “standards.” Photo: J. Scott A

Hawaii, was the first senator to question Pete Hegseth about the sexual assault allegation against the defense secretary pick. Hirono also spoke to Hegseth about his past comments on women in the military and President-elect Trump's aspirations for Greenland.