Kirsten Gillibrand melts down over ‘mean’ Pete Hegseth when he emphasizes need for merit-based standards in military

After recalling different statements Hegseth has made in the past where he has said women should not be in combat roles, Gillibrand attacked Hegseth, saying, "Please explain these types of statements because they're brutal, and they're mean, and they disrespect men and women who are willing to die for this country," Gillibrand said.

During her statements, Gillibrand said that his previous statements on the military are "so hurtful to the men and women who are currently serving in the US military." She later added, implicating that Hegseth is sexist, "You will have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don't know if you are capable of that."

Gillibrand addressed a previous comment from Hegseth where he said, "Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units." Hegseth has said that ability should be the factor in determining who should be able to serve in the military, but that standards have to be high for both men and women who want to serve.

Hegseth responded, talking about what he saw in the military while speaking to military personnel, and said that standards have been changed and that quotas for female soldiers have been implemented in some instances.

Gillibrand hit back, saying that quotas for women in military units "do not exist" and added that he has denigrated women in the military because of his statements. "Your statements are creating the impression these [quotas] exist because they do not. There are not quotas."