‘Who Cares?’: Chris Cuomo Hammers Dem Sen For Chewing Up Hearing Time To Bombard Pete Hegseth About His Marriage

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo criticized Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine on Tuesday for using his time during Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing to grill him over his past marriage.

Kaine raised allegations of Hegseth’s infidelity, alcoholism and abuse during his questioning rather than prioritizing other queries relevant to the role of secretary of defense. Cuomo suggested Kaine’s line of questioning was disgusting, condemning both the standard he was holding Hegseth to and the substantive issues he was ignoring.

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“Let me ask you: What questions would you have for a potential secretary of defense? ‘What are you going to do about China, Russia, terror, Pentagon size, drones — or would your top concern be his marriage? Is your biggest fear that an army of trans folk are going to take over? Because those were the concerns that the most deliberative body in the world focused on today,” Cuomo said. “Here is the moment that Democrats are choosing to send around the internet as their big win: Senator Tim Kaine giving Hegseth the Bill Clinton.”

The NewsNation host then played a clip of Kaine suggesting Hegseth’s alleged infidelity indicates he will not be steadfast to the oath of office he would take as secretary of defense. Hegseth defended himself by saying he is a changed man because of his Christian faith.

“So because of his marriage, he can’t be trusted with the oath of office? Two points of disgust: How many people on that committee, how many in Congress, could pass the Kaine test that you can’t honor an oath to serve if you’ve ever been unfaithful? Kaine may be sitting in that room alone,” Cuomo said after playing the clip. “Who cares when we are talking about being the top warrior, not our pastor? I’ll tell you who agreed with me once about this: Tim Kaine. He supported Bill Clinton for president. He didn’t say he couldn’t serve despite all he knew about his peccadilloes. He still backed him. Why? Is president not as important an oath? So, what changed?”