The Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, was marked by sharp exchanges and accusations, drawing criticism from observers for the conduct of several Democratic senators.

The hearing, held on Tuesday, featured pointed questioning and controversial remarks that many say backfired on the Democratic opposition.

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings offered a strong critique of the hearing, particularly the behavior of Democratic senators.

Speaking on CNN News Central, Jennings described the performance of Hegseth as “calm, cool, and collected” while lambasting the Democrats for what he called “bizarre and unprofessional” conduct.

“In short, I think Pete Hegseth kicked their asses today. I mean, it wasn’t even close. They didn’t lay a glove on Hegseth. No mistakes. Calm, cool, collected. I mean, before the thing even started, you had this, like, Code Pink, you know, protester freak show trying to disrupt the hearing,” Jennings remarked.

The hearing saw Democratic senators aggressively question Hegseth on a variety of issues.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine accused Hegseth of infidelity, a line of questioning that drew sharp criticism. Jennings commented, “I mean, Tim Kaine sounded like a sex pervert in his questioning of Pete Hegseth.”

Other senators also faced scrutiny for their approach. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) spent eight minutes lecturing Hegseth about women’s roles in the military.

Jennings criticized this approach and included additional commentary on other senators’ performances. “You had [Connecticut Sen. Richard] Blumenthal, who lied about his service in Vietnam, questioning Hegseth’s qualifications. You had [Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth] Warren, you had [Hawaii Sen. Mazie] Hirono going on unhinged rants about things. [Maine Sen.] Angus King obviously doesn’t understand what it’s like to fight terrorism. On and on and on.”

Jennings suggested that the behavior of Democratic senators during the hearing might have strengthened Hegseth’s confirmation prospects.

“Hegseth was cool in the face of this unhinged questioning. They made him look good today. It would be difficult for a Republican to vote against Hegseth after the Democrats’ unseemly mudslinging today,” he said.

The hearing also featured disruptions from protestors, including those affiliated with Code Pink, an anti-war activist group.

Jennings referred to their presence as a “protester freak show,” which he linked to the Democratic base.

On CNN: Pete Hegseth Kicked Their A**es Today, It Wasn’t Even Close…

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings offered a strong critique of the hearing, particularly the behavior of Democratic senators.

Speaking on CNN News Central, Jennings described the performance of… pic.twitter.com/gKaSqVjmnn

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Hegseth, a veteran and former Army officer, has been a prominent supporter of President-elect Trump and has drawn attention for his outspoken views on military and national security issues.

His composure during the contentious hearing earned praise from Republican lawmakers and commentators alike.

Observers say the exchanges highlighted the deep divisions in Washington as the incoming administration prepares to take office.

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