Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host and Donald Trump’s nominee for Defence Secretary, faced intense scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearing with a viral moment adding to the backlash.
Hegseth, questioned about his knowledge of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), failed to name any member countries of the bloc or their importance in U.S. security strategy.
The exchange occurred when Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois asked Hegseth about ASEAN’s significance.
Duckworth, a veteran critical of Hegseth’s nomination, requested that he name an ASEAN nation, describe its importance, and state the number of members in the bloc. Hegseth admitted, “I couldn’t tell you the exact amount of nations in that,” before referencing U.S. allies South Korea, Japan, and Australia—none of which are part of ASEAN.
Duckworth quickly corrected him, emphasising the importance of understanding ASEAN’s ten member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The moment, which has gained millions of views on social media, drew sharp criticism from both lawmakers and public figures.
Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell questioned Hegseth’s qualifications, posting: “Hegseth can’t name one ASEAN country. America, if you want peace and security, this ain’t it!”
Others echoed her concerns. Liberal advocacy group VoteVets called the moment a “mic drop,” while critics on X deemed the gaffe “terrifying” and indicative of a lack of preparedness.
Defenders of Hegseth argued the question was unfair. Former Congressman Peter Meijer said the criticism was unwarranted, stating: “Clearly Hegseth heard ‘Asia’ and referenced key Indo-Pacific allies. ASEAN isn’t directly relevant to defence in this context.”
However, ASEAN has been central to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy since Trump’s first term, with Washington seeking to counterbalance China’s growing influence. The bloc, while not a military alliance, includes key partners like the Philippines and Thailand, with Singapore designated as a Major Security Cooperation Partner.
The hearing also delved into Hegseth’s history of alleged misconduct, his views on women in the military, and his involvement in the pardoning of individuals accused of war crimes, further fuelling controversy over his nomination.
