Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense — even though he’d surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.

Pete Hegseth faced an important test on Tuesday — but he didn't just have to prove himself to the senators who immediately began sparring over his nomination as defense secretary.

Senate Democrats grilled Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for defense secretary, about allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and his comments about women in combat. Hegseth said the allegations were part of a smear campaign in the media against him.