Roger Wicker

Mr. Haig said that it seems to me that you've supervised far more people than the average United States senator supervises typically.

This concludes today's hearing. I want to thank the witnesses and their families. And this hearing is adjourned.

Good morning. The hearing will come to order.

Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional, just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president. That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice.

He is a decorated post-911 combat veteran. He will inject a new warrior ethos into the Pentagon, a spirit that can cascade from the top down. Mr. Hegseth will bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy.

In short, I'm confident that Mr. Hexeth, supported by a team of experienced top officials, will get the job done.

I want to thank the authorities for their swift reaction to that outburst.

And I look forward to your questions. Thank you very much, Mr. Hegseth.

My position is that anything meaningful, any sort of peace talks that might get a fair result would definitely need to have the Ukrainians at the table and make sure that European interests are considered and carefully weighed.

No. Putin is a war criminal and should be in jail for the rest of his life, if not executed. Vladimir Putin has violated every tenet of international law and should be indicted and prosecuted in jail, possibly executed.

Well, you know, I made a statement about that. And let me just say, Secretary Hegseth and I spoke while he was in Poland and I was in Munich. And I think to the extent that his subsequent statement was somewhat of a walk back, that was a favorable development.

The NATO alliance is very important. We've been drawn into two bloody wars. Massive. killing conflagrations in the last 100 years. I think the best way for a European general war to be avoided that would eventually cause us to become involved is to ensure that the rule of law that's been observed for 70 years in Europe be enforced and protected. That's why we have NATO.

That's why the European Union exists.

The Russians are the bad guys. They invaded, contrary to almost every international law, and they should be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to to the promises that the world made to them.

Delighted that you're here in the United States. We're encouraged about the show of support. We have committee chairs. We have the president. We're here today as a show of support.