Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's choice for Defense secretary, on Tuesday emerged largely unscathed from an at times blistering confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Democratic lawmakers on the panel took aim at Hegseth’s lack of experience leading an agency as large and complex as the Pentagon, claims related to his treatment of women and excessive drinking, and his past comments on the role of women in the military.

Multiple Democrats also expressed concerns that an FBI background check on Hegseth, an Army veteran, left out crucial details on major allegations levied against him. The report was viewed by the panel’s top two members on Friday.

Committee Republicans, however, rallied around the former Fox News host. Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) declared the hearing a “tour de force” and “triumph” on the part of Hegseth.

“Mr. Hegseth had three audiences: The committee, the United States Senate and the American general public. I think it was a magnificent display of his knowledge and his ability to communicate his leadership abilities and I feel very good about this hearing today,” Wicker told reporters. “I don’t think [it] could have gone any better.”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who had been considered a make-or-break vote for Hegseth, announced on the Simon Conway radio show after the hearing that she would vote for the nominee.

Here are five takeaways from the hearing.

Hegseth survives

Republicans on the panel expressed confidence following the hearing that Hegseth will ultimately win confirmation.

They believe he performed well and heeded calls from Republicans to keep his cool, despite attempts by Democrats on the panel to goad him into a misstep that could hurt his chances before the full Senate.

“I think he helped himself immensely today,” Wicker told reporters after the hearing.

Unlike other nominees, Hegseth has focused on keeping hold of the requisite number of Republicans rather than trying to win over Democrats that are considered longshots.

He met multiple times with Ernst in an attempt to assuage her concerns. By contrast, he only met with one Democrat on the panel.

Democrats on Tuesday complained about the lack of communication, but the playbook could be paying off after he stuck to the script and did not make any obvious missteps that could deprive him of the four Republican votes that would sink him.

“This is kind of what we had expected would happen. Most certainly, I think Mr. Hegseth has........

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