Pete Hegseth Hilariously Pushes Back on Senator Warren’s Strange Line of Questioning During Hearing

Pete Hegseth | Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth found himself at odds with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) during his Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing on Tuesday. The decorated Army veteran faced pointed questions about his stance on restricting retired generals from entering the defense industry—a policy he has publicly supported. Warren sought to challenge Hegseth by asking if he would apply the same standard to himself after leaving the Defense Department.

“But the question I have for you on this is will you put your money where your mouth is and agree that when you leave this job you will not work for the defense industry for 10 years?” Warren asked. Hegseth responded candidly, stating, “Senator, it’s not even a question I’ve thought about,” but added that he would consult the applicable law before making any commitment.

Warren, undeterred, pressed further, urging Hegseth to make a decision on the spot. “You can think about it right now,” she suggested. However, Hegseth stood his ground, replying, “I would consult with the president about what the policy should be.”

The exchange grew tenser as Warren framed her question as a matter of ethical consistency, accusing Hegseth of holding generals to a higher standard than himself. “In other words, you are quite sure that every general who serves should not go directly into the defense industry for 10 years, but you’re not willing to make that same pledge?” she asked pointedly.


Hegseth’s response was sharp and succinct. “I’m not a general, Senator,” he said, a remark that drew laughter from the room. The moment left Warren visibly flustered as she attempted to recover, stating, “You’ll be the one, let us just be clear, in charge of the generals.”

The exchange underscored a larger debate over ethics and the so-called “revolving door” between government service and the defense industry. Hegseth’s refusal to make a sweeping commitment on the spot highlighted the complexities of balancing personal principles with broader policy decisions. His emphasis on consulting the president before taking a firm stance suggested a pragmatic approach to the issue.

While Warren’s questioning sought to challenge Hegseth’s ethical consistency, the hearing also highlighted the sharp ideological divides surrounding defense policy. Critics of Warren argue that her line of questioning conflated separate issues—Hegseth’s past comments on women in combat roles and his views on the defense industry—while failing to address the substantive challenges he might face as Defense Secretary.