Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) pressed Hegseth on whether he would resign if he drank in office (he declined to answer directly) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) gave the former Fox host a pop quiz, asking him to name nations in ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which he failed to do.

Hegseth's former experience in the Army National Guard is widely viewed as an asset for the job, but he also brings a jarring record of past statements and actions.