Transcript of Pete Hegseth struggles to answer Sen. Duckworth’s ASEAN question

Joining us now, a Democrat who questioned Pete Hexet today. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is a key member of the Arm Services Committee. She's also an Iraq war veteran. Senator, thanks so much for joining us. Let's listen to this exchange you had with Hexet about his knowledge of a key alliance in Southeast Asia. Listen to this.

What is the highest level of international security agreement that you have led? Can you name some that the Secretary of Defense would lead? There are three main Do you know?

I have not been involved in international security arrangements because I have not been in government other than serving in the military. My job has been to lead men and women in combat. No.

The answer is, can you name one of the three main ones that the Secretary of Defense signs?

You're talking about defense arrangements. Nato might be one That's the one that you're referring to.

Status of Forces Agreement would be one of them.

Status of Forces Agreement. I've been a part of teaching about Status of Forces Agreement inside Afghanistan.

But you don't remember to mention it? You're not qualified, Mr. Hexat. You're not qualified. When you talk about repairing our defense industrial complex. You're not qualified to that. You could do the acquisition and cross-servicing agreements, which essentially are security agreements. You can't even mention that. You've done none of those. You talked about the Indo-Pacific a little bit, and I'm glad that you mentioned it. Can you name the importance of at least one of the nations in the ASEAN in ASEAN and what type of agreement we have with at least one of those nations? How many nations are in ASEAN, by the way?

I couldn't tell you the exact amount of nations in that. No, you couldn't because you're not even bothered to do- But I know we have allies in South Korea, in Japan, and in August with Australia, trying to work on submarines with them.

Mr. Hexet, none of those countries are in ASEAN. You have allies across. None of those three countries that you've mentioned are in Asia. I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations.

All right, so we just heard that exchange, that little exchange you had with Hexet. Were you surprised he wasn't able to answer your question?

I'm flabbergasted that he was not able to answer a very simple question as that, especially since he actually mentioned the importance of the Indo-Pacific in his opening statement. But he also couldn't tell me what are some of the ways that a Secretary of Defense would lead international negotiations with our allies either. I mean, some very basic things that anybody who wants to be Secretary of Defense should be able to answer. For him to not even know a single nation out of the 10 in Asien speaks very loudly to his lack of qualifications for the job.

Hexet was also repeatedly pressed on his views about whether he thinks women should be allowed to serve in combat. As an Iraq war veteran yourself and a Purple Heart recipient, what did you make of his answers?

Well, he kept trying to put women on the stand. It was almost like this was a hearing about whether or not women are qualified to serve in combat, as opposed to this was supposed to be a hearing about whether or not Kippen Hegstatt is qualified to be Secretary of Defense. He did everything that he could to denigrate women He wouldn't come out and say that women are equally qualified. He talked a lot about not wanting to lower the standards, anyone at the highest standards, which is ironic since he wants us to lower the standards for what it takes to be Secretary of Defense so that he can have the job.

You called Hexet, Senator, wholly unprepared to become the US Defense Secretary. He looks to be headed towards confirmation. He just needs the Republicans to support him. Why do you say the country would be at risk with him as Defense Secretary?

Well, the Secretary of Defense leads the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. We are the leader in our alliance all around the world. Our adversaries are watching to see, especially during a time of transition is when we are most vulnerable to attack. Then frankly, Mr. Hexet is that very weak incoming leader, should he be confirmed. They can exploit his weaknesses. They exploit potentially his personal weaknesses. The fact of the matter is we have all of these allegations that have not been completely dealt with of him having sexually assaulted women. These are the ways that our adversaries could actually blackmail him. He's already had to pay off an accuser in order to keep a previous job that he had. To have a Secretary of Defense who is potentially blackmailable is something that we certainly do not want as the United States of America.

What do you say, Senator, to your Republican colleagues who appear willing to confirm Hegset, despite serious questions about his qualifications and allegations of drunk and sexual assault?

I am deeply, deeply disappointed should any of my Republican colleagues vote to confirm this man, especially those who are on the Arm Services Committee, because we are a very bipartisan committee I respect my colleagues, but the fact of the matter is they can, on one hand, talk about upholding standards, and then on the other hand, talk about lowering the standards to confirm someone who's not qualified to be Secretary of Defense. Basically, what I would say to my colleagues is, Stop praying at the altar of Maga, and let's put the country above self and your personal political ambitions.

I want to play that clip from Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen. During the hearing, we mistakenly played it a little bit earlier, but I want to play it again. Listen and watch this.

Senator Caine, or I guess I better use the Senator from Virginia, starts bringing up the fact that what if you showed up drunk to your job? How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign for their job?

Senator, how do you respond to that?

Well, again, the Republicans kept trying to put other people on the stand to make them say that they're qualified to do their jobs. And Senator Mullen actually said that there were no qualifications necessary to be Secretary of Defense, and I would disagree with him because one of the qualifications to be Secretary of Defense is actually to be confirmed by the United States Senate and to convince the members of the United States Senate that he's qualified to do the job. And certainly, he did not convince me today that he is capable of doing the job. And that's just like saying, Oh, somebody else is drunk at their job, so it's okay for me to be drunk at my job? I mean, I would accept that type of argument from my six he pushed me, so I pushed him. I certainly don't want that to be the argument for why we confirmed somebody to be Secretary of Defense.

Senator Tani Duckworth, thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks for having me on.