Former CNN and current NewsNation host Chris Cuomo offered a scathing critique of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing for Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth. Cuomo accused lawmakers of focusing on culture war issues instead of addressing critical national security matters, describing the session as a “toxic game of division.” His criticism was particularly aimed at the Democratic line of questioning, which focused on Hegseth’s personal life, including his past marital issues.
“My opinion is we saw the enemy today at Pete Hegseth’s Armed Services Committee hearing, and it’s us,” Cuomo said. “Not you, but the toxic game of division played by the people who we put in power.” One of the moments that the former CNN host may have been referencing came from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate, who questioned Hegseth about an incident in Monterey, California, in 2017, around the same time Hegseth fathered a child with a woman who would later become his third wife.
Kaine pressed, “You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I assume that in each of your weddings you’ve pledged to be faithful to your wife.” Hegseth responded, “I have failed in things in my life and thankfully I’m redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Cuomo added, “So, because of his marriage, he can’t be trusted with the oath of office? How many people on that committee, how many in Congress, could pass the Kaine test?” pointing to Kaine’s support for Bill Clinton despite similar personal scandals.
“You know, a bipartisan National Security Commission found we are not ready for war with China or Russia. Do you know that? They suggested our technology and our inventory are a question mark. Recruitment across the armed services is weak,” Cuomo said. “Cyber attacks are crushing us, increasingly. All these big things are flying around, including over military bases. No one can explain it. And this guy, who has never led anything like a federal agency, is up for a job over the biggest war machine in the world, which is one of the largest employers in the federal government, and Tim Kaine wants to talk to him to exhaustion about his marriage.”
“Thousands of military members’ families are literally living in poverty while their loved ones are serving. And that, they don’t wanna worry about. That’s not a threat. His marriage, gender ‘gotchas,’ that’s what matters?” Cuomo remarked. “Look, here’s the worst part: The right did not take the opportunity for high ground that the left gave them—an opportunity to discuss what really matters to national defense.” Cuomo also called out Republicans for failing to answer more in-depth questions as well, focusing mostly on DEI, but Hegseth has previously explained that culture is bitterly divisive within the ranks and dramatically impacts unit cohesion and readiness. Check out the video:
