The Senate hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, erupted into fireworks on Tuesday, January 14. Hegseth, an Army combat veteran and former Fox News host, faced a barrage of baseless personal attacks from Democratic senators. But it was Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin who turned the tables, delivering a blistering defense of Hegseth while calling out the hypocrisy in the room.

The hearing quickly devolved into a circus, with Democratic senators relying on anonymous sources to accuse Hegseth of being a heavy drinker and a womanizer—claims he has consistently denied. Senator Elizabeth Warren even embarrassed herself by misrepresenting Hegseth’s military rank, underscoring how unprepared and unserious the attacks were.

The antics reached a fever pitch when one senator slammed her table and angrily shouted at Hegseth, breaching all norms of decorum. It became evident that this was less about Hegseth’s qualifications and more about scoring political points against a Trump nominee.

In a fiery rebuke, Senator Markwayne Mullin called out the hypocrisy of his Democratic colleagues. “How many senators showed up drunk to vote at night? Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it because I know you have!” Mullin exclaimed.

He didn’t stop there. Mullin lambasted senators for their personal failures, saying, “How many senators have gotten a divorce because they’ve cheated on their wives?” The Oklahoma senator labeled the attacks on Hegseth as nothing more than a “big show” and accused his colleagues of using the hearing to grandstand rather than address the nominee’s qualifications.

Mullin didn’t mince words when critiquing the Senate’s own lack of standards. “There are a lot of senators I wouldn’t have on my board because there are no qualifications except your age and you gotta be living in the state—and you’re a citizen of the United States—to be a senator,” he said, highlighting the low bar for entry into what is supposed to be one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions.

In stark contrast, Mullin praised Hegseth’s service and character, saying, “He’s been willing to see friends die for this country. His wife is willing to still stand beside him knowing he wasn’t perfect, knowing that all this was going to be brought up, and he’s still willing to serve the country. What other qualifications does he need?”

Breitbart News aptly summarized the situation, calling the Democratic attacks “hypocrites and vipers.” Their commentary pointed out the glaring double standard: senators who have shown up “drunk” or embroiled in personal scandals faced no similar scrutiny, yet Hegseth was subjected to relentless attacks.

Independent journalist Tim Pool joined in, posting on X, “HAHA Holy Mother of Epic. Senator Mullin Roasting Democrats because Other Senators SHOW UP DRUNK TO VOTE And Never get called out or insulted the way they are trying to do to Pete Hegseth.”

Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing was less about his qualifications and more about Democrats weaponizing personal attacks to derail his nomination. But thanks to Senator Mullin’s bold defense, the hypocrisy was laid bare. Hegseth’s willingness to serve despite the onslaught is a testament to his character—a stark contrast to the political theater on display.