During the confirmation hearing, Hegseth said if confirmed as defence secretary, he would follow the law. When King asked, “Are you OK with waterboarding”, Hegseth said, “Senator, the law of the land is that waterboarding is not legal.”

Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was taking questions from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) when she challenged him to share his knowledge about even just one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

He can communicate so well to the American people," Waltz said, adding that Hegseth can articulate "why we need what we need for our troops, and that is a critical piece that President Trump values, as well.