President Donald J. Trump has nominated an exceptional cabinet to implement his America First agenda — and his nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is no exception.

There's a reason Hegseth has earned broad support on Capitol Hill. Hegseth is a decorated veteran who served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and as a guard at Guantanamo Bay — and was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. He has two Ivy League degrees and has spent his career advocating on behalf of veterans.

Here's what they're saying:

• Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY): "Pete Hegseth is a strong nominee to lead the Department of Defense. We had an excellent discussion about the need for America's military to remain the best in the world. That means taking care of our service members, equipping them with the latest technology, and focusing on making our military the most lethal force on the planet. Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power — not the current administration's woke political agenda."
  
  
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK): "I think he's perfect. He's a decorated combat veteran. He's got two Bronze Stars, 20 years in service ... The guy is a solid, solid individual. He's the right man for the job."
  
  
• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA): "I think he is going to be a very strong secretary of defense."
  
  
• Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): "Pete is a warrior, an advocate for veterans, and a well qualified nominee. He will put our enemies on notice and make our military great again."
  
  
• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): "I think he's going to be in pretty good shape."
  
  
• Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN): "I had an outstanding meeting with Pete Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran who put his own life on the line for America. Pete knows that the Defense Secretary’s job is to empower the men and women of our military to carry out their patriotic duty, not consign them to serve as political pawns in a broken Washington. A great choice by @realDonaldTrump to change Washington, and I look forward to supporting his confirmation."
  
  
• Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): "Pete is 100% committed to building a lethal military that's feared by our enemies & respected by our allies, while doing more to take care of those who serve our nation & their families. He will do a great job leading the @DeptofDefense."
  
  
• Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC): "[Hegseth is] an impressive individual ... I'm certainly going to support President Trump and his agenda and his nominees."
  
  
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): "At Defense, [President Trump] tapped Pete Hegseth, a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His Ivy League-educated, businessman background — that's what we need in the Pentagon right now."
  
  
• Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND): "I think he's great."
  
  
• Speaker Mike Johnson: "Pete brings a lot to the table. He's got experience, and I think he'll be reform-minded in the areas that need reform."