Pete Hegseth has been pelted with questions since his confirmation hearing for secretary of defense started Tuesday morning.
During the hearing, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) suggested the nominee may want to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal using military force.
President-elect Donald Trump has floated the idea of taking control of the two entities, IJR previously reported on. Trump has not committed to doing this by military force.
“Would you use our military to take over Greenland or an ally of Denmark?” Hirono asked Hegseth.
Hegseth responded, “Senators, one of the things President Trump is so good at is never strategically tipping his hand. I would never in this public forum, give one way or another what orders the president gives me in any context.”
Hirono said it sounded like the answer was in the affirmative.
“That sounds to me that you would contemplate carrying out such an order to basically invade Greenland and take over the Panama Canal,” she said.
The interaction was posted on X by journalist Eric Daugherty:
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 14, 2025
BREAKING: Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) accuses Pete Hegseth of planning to use the military to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Lmao.
HIRONO: Would you use the military to take over Greenland or an ally?
HEGSETH: Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would… pic.twitter.com/36a5Y88ZXv
Many spoke out about the questioning on X:
TooFarStupid
— Joy MAGA Davis (@ThatGir154) January 14, 2025
Senator Hirono thinks Pete Hegseth is planning to invade Greenland and the Panama Canal?
— Kentucky Kernels Of Truth (@TrackDaddyKy) January 14, 2025
This isn’t a confirmation hearing—it’s a bad spy movie.
