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He was vehemently against them before, but now he’s seemingly for them.
Former Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is attempting to rewrite his controversial views on women in combat and LGBTQ+ service members as he faces an uphill battle for confirmation in the U.S. Senate.
Hegseth, who previously derided the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people and women in the military, now says he supports both. After meeting with Republican Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul on Thursday, reporters asked Hegseth if he believed gay people should be allowed to serve in the military. His response was a terse “Yes.”
Related: Pete Hegseth really doesn’t like LGBTQ+ people in the military
The sudden pivot comes after previous incendiary remarks. Earlier, Hegseth claimed that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was part of a “Marxist agenda” and said that LGBTQ+ inclusion had diluted the military’s toughness. Regarding women in combat, Hegseth noted just last month on a popular right-wing podcast, “We should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, [and] has made fighting more complicated.”
Now, Hegseth appears to be walking back those stances. In a Fox News interview on Monday, he lauded women in the military, calling them “some of our greatest warriors.” He did not say that he thought they belonged in combat positions.
Executive director of the Modern Military Association of America Rachel Branaman expressed concern over the possibility of Hegseth leading the Pentagon, warning of the potential rollback of progress for LGBTQ+ service members.
“Modern Military is concerned by the nomination of anyone who supports policies that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community,” Branaman told The Advocate in a statement. “While nothing is known for certain and we have no policy in hand, we anticipate anti-LGBTQ+ policies in alignment with the previous Trump administration’s goals. The reinstatement of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ or an imminent transgender military ban are causes for concern and create devastating uncertainty for LGBTQ+ service members and their families.”
Branaman also highlighted the importance of diversity to military readiness and operational success, warning of the long-term consequences of excluding women and LGBTQ+ people from service.
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“Diverse teams exhibit enhanced resilience, broadened perspectives, and increased adaptability,” Branaman said. “Without the inclusion of women in combat roles—17 percent of active-duty military—and by excluding gender-expansive people and LGBTQ+ individuals, [-over 6 percent of active-duty military from military service, the military would suffer a significant loss of talent and capability, jeopardizing its readiness and ability to meet future challenges.”
The controversy surrounding Hegseth’s nomination extends beyond his rhetoric. Allegations of sexual assault, financial mismanagement, and excessive drinking have further fueled opposition. Critics, including Democratic Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth — an Army combat veteran who lost both legs in combat — remain unconvinced by his sudden change of heart.
“Trump nominees lie all the time in order to get confirmed, don’t they?” Duckworth toldPolitico. “So, I don’t trust him.”
Hegseth’s nomination also reignites fears of Trump reinstating policies like a transgender military ban, which could impact over 10,000 service members. Advocates worry that such moves would deepen the military’s dire recruitment and retention crisis.
The stakes remain high. “In a military force already stretched thin by low recruiting, creating unnecessary hardship for thousands of military members signals vulnerability and creates an advantage for America’s adversaries,” she said.
