Pete Hegseth Walks Back Comments About Gay People In The Military | EUROtoday

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choose to guide the Department of Defense, on Thursday appeared to stroll again previous feedback criticizing insurance policies that allowed overtly homosexual folks to serve within the U.S. army.

Hegseth was approached by reporters following a gathering with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill as he works to shore up help from lawmakers.

“Do you believe that gay people should be allowed to serve in the military?” a reporter requested.

“Yes,” Hegseth responded.

Hegseth, nevertheless, declined to deal with a report by CNN’s KFile detailing his previous feedback in opposition to these insurance policies.

“I don’t feel the need to respond to CNN,” Hegseth stated.

In his ebook “The War on Warriors,” Hegseth, in line with CNN, stated the Obama administration’s resolution to repeal a regulation that solely allowed homosexual folks to serve within the army so long as they saved their sexual orientation secret was a “breach in the wire” that paved the way in which for extra ideological adjustments within the army.

Hegseth has additionally beforehand drawn scrutiny for saying ladies shouldn’t serve in fight roles. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the Army veteran claimed his feedback have been “misconstrued.”

“Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors out there are women,” he stated.

The former Fox News host has confronted damaging allegations about his previous conduct. A New Yorker story printed earlier this month stated Hegseth was pressured to resign from his roles at two veteran teams over accusations of “financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and personal misconduct.” Hegseth has denied the allegations.

In addition, Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017 however reached a settlement settlement with the girl in 2020. He has denied wrongdoing.

While the onslaught of allegations appeared prefer it might tank his nomination, Republican lawmakers seem to have determined to look previous them, with Trump additionally expressing confidence in Hegseth.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a fight veteran and sexual assault survivor who beforehand appeared ambivalent on Hegseth, signaled extra openness towards his supposed nomination after what she described as “encouraging conversations” following strain from pro-Trump influencers. Ernst is up for reelection in 2026.

“As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” she stated.

Hegseth is reportedly set to fulfill with Trump on the Army-Navy soccer recreation on Saturday.