Washington, Jan 14 (AP) Donald Trump's cabinet picks are beginning their nomination process this week, starting with Trump's choice for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth.

The hearing opened Tuesday as senators question whether the former combat veteran and TV news show host is fit to lead the US military.

Also Read | World Economic Forum 2025: Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz Among 60 Top Leaders to Address WEF Davos Meet.

In his opening remarks, Hegseth struck a far different tone than he did in his books.

Hegseth said, “Officers and enlisted, Black and white, young and old, men and women, all Americans, all warriors -- this hearing is for you. Thank you for figuratively, and literally, having my back. I pledge to do the same for you. All of you.”

Also Read | Pakistan: Jailed Former PM Imran Khan’s Wife Bushra Bibi Secures Bail in over a Dozen Cases.

Comments in his books included inflammatory passages questioning the capabilities of Black troops -- like a passage in “War on Warriors” that “we can assume that 17 per cent of all Black officers in the Air Force are promoted simply because of how they look,” and questioning the value of women serving in combat.

As Hegseth spoke, a protester calling him a misogynist was removed from the hearing.

During the hearing, Hegseth called the accusations of drinking and womanising he would face from “left wing media” on “second and third hand accounts” a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us.” He said the attacks were about Trump, not him.

He did not specifically address any of the accusations and did not tell Chairman Wicker that he did not drink or womanise.

Throughout his opening remarks, several protestors wearing camouflage fatigues, stood on their chairs and began condemning Hegseth. Each was swiftly dragged out from the hearing by Capitol Police.

One woman jumped up and yelled that her veteran father “had committed suicide after his service and you're sending money to bomb babies...every veteran in here needs to speak up” she screamed as she was ushered out of the room. Another yelled that Hegseth supported “murdering babies...that's the real recruiting crisis” he screamed as three officers carried him by his arms and legs out.

Several other people were approached by police and directed out of the room without any clear coercion. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)