Conservatives erupted Tuesday on social media following an exchange between Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and freshman Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., regarding gender identity.

Pete Hegseth, military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)

Long speculated as a potential GOP holdout, Sen. John Curtis said Wednesday that he supports Donald Trump's embattled defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth.

Trump's got the bullhorn now to say, ‘MAGA nation is watching,’” said outgoing Dallas County Republican Party Chair Kelley Koch.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced that he will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, increasing the nominee’s chances of becoming the next head

Hegseth awkwardly skirted giving firm answers on topics related to his personal baggage and what he would do as defense secretary.

Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will publicly face senators for the first time Tuesday after weeks of privately pushing back on criticism over his qualifications and personal past. Sen. Eric Schmitt,

Critics of Trump's defense secretary nominee say the symbol has been adopted by extremist groups, including white supremacists.

The Oklahoma Republican tried to defend Hegseth against allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. It didn't go especially well.

Republicans appear poised to confirm Trump's controversial nominee to lead the government's largest and most complex agency

Stonewalling questions about his sexual behavior and excessive drinking as “anonymous smears,” the Fox host charmed the Senate Armed Services Committee’s GOP majority into submission.