Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary touches on a wide array of issues — national security, the fitness of our leaders, and the potential misuse of the military by Donald Trump against his domestic adversaries. It also reflects a broader question about the kind of country we are becoming.
The most controversial aspects of Hegseth’s record involve a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which occurred when he was a Fox News host, coupled with multiple reports of alcohol abuse. Historically, such allegations, touching on the issue of character, might have disqualified a nominee outright.
During Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, Hegseth said he was “falsely accused” of sexual assault. Regardless, as the Wall Street Journal’s editorial points out, it remains fair to question his judgment and whether he would possess the moral authority needed to effectively lead the Pentagon.
So why does it seem more likely than not that he’ll secure Senate confirmation?
Some of this is just power politics — Trump’s dominance of the GOP makes Republican senators hesitant to reject his nominee. But there’s also a cultural backlash at play. The era dominated by progressive cultural norms — circa 2017 to 2020 — has given way to a counter-reaction, one in which anti-“woke” sentiment plays a central role.
Hegseth’s professional appeal lies in his promise to dismantle perceived “wokeism” within the military. But it’s also true that Hegseth personally embodies his mission, and his confirmation would be a thumb in the eye of those who pushed progressivism. But is the pendulum about to swing too far to the right?
If confirmed, Hegseth’s ascent would send a clear message to the nation: Diversity initiatives are no longer a priority, and allegations of sexual misconduct may no longer be disqualifying — even for the most senior positions.
To be fair, Trump’s own election bore a similar meaning. The lingering question is whether this represents an anomaly tied to Trump personally, or if a broader and more enduring cultural shift is spreading.
It’s worth acknowledging that I have long been a critic of moral panics, political correctness and the excesses of the #MeToo era. I have argued against slogans like “Believe all women” and cautioned against blurring lines between criminal behavior and gray areas shaped by shifting societal norms.
Unfortunately, the pushback against political correctness sometimes veers into rejecting basic civility — an attitude that has no place in a healthy society.
No, we don’t want hectoring HR directors micromanaging every “microaggression” and pronoun choice. But we also don’t need public figures endorsing the casual use of slurs — see Elon Musk’s affinity for calling people “retarded,” a habit that has spawned imitators.
Until a few years ago, corporations and individuals eager to stay ahead of cultural trends aggressively embraced progressive values, sometimes to the detriment of fairness and freedom.
Many of these same entities are now racing to shed those values, engaging in what could be termed “vice signaling.” This reactionary pivot isn’t driven by a sincere change of heart, but by the perception, as Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg recently noted when explaining his company’s shifting policies, that “we’re in a new era now.”
While a correction away from the excesses and intolerance of cancel culture is overdue, we must find a middle ground. Instead, we seem to be hurtling from one extreme to another — first stifling freedom in the name of inclusion, and now discarding liberal values in favor of libertine defiance.
This makes Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) forthcoming confirmation vote particularly intriguing. Ernst, who served in uniform for more two decades and has described herself as “a survivor of sexual assault,” retains a pivotal vote in the confirmation process. During Tuesday’s hearing, Ernst was able to get Hegseth to commit to allowing women in combat — a reversal of his past position — assuming they meet the same high standard as enlisted men. She also secured a commitment from Hegseth to appoint a senior Department of Defense official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response.
A win is a win, but which version of Hegseth would we see at the Pentagon? The one who tailored his words to secure Ernst’s support, or the one who publicly expressed more polarizing and controversial attitudes for the last decade?
A Hegseth confirmation would symbolize a larger cultural moment — one in which norms of decency and accountability risk being discarded in the rush to reject progressivism.
Senators will be voting for more than just a defense secretary. They will be voting for the kind of values and principles that will define our nation’s character moving forward.
Matt K. Lewis is a columnist, podcaster and author of the books “Too Dumb to Fail” and “Filthy Rich Politicians.”
