The Senate Armed Services Committee convened Wednesday for the high-stakes confirmation hearing of Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. The session quickly turned into a battlefield, with Democrats launching what Steve Bannon described as "a full-on political assault” against Hegseth.

"This isn’t about understanding Pete Hegseth’s vision for the Department of Defense,” Bannon said on his War Room program. "It’s about creating soundbites and setting the tone for resistance against Trump’s administration.”

Bannon pointed to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York as leading the charge. Gillibrand’s focus was on Hegseth’s stance regarding reforms to the military justice system, particularly proposals influenced by the #MeToo movement. These reforms, including establishing a separate chain of command for handling sexual assault cases, have been a contentious topic.

Bannon was unequivocal in his criticism: "What Gillibrand is pushing is a disaster. It mirrors the Soviet and Chinese Communist Party systems, where political commissars operated outside the military chain of command, undermining the effectiveness of the troops.”

He argued that maintaining a unified chain of command within the military is essential. "You can’t have political ideology override the command structure. That’s a recipe for chaos,” he said.

While Democrats grilled Hegseth, Republicans largely rallied behind him. Bannon praised Senator Tom Cotton for his sharp questioning of Democrats. "Cotton didn’t just defend Pete; he made the case for why Hegseth is the right person for the job,” Bannon said.

Bannon also highlighted the importance of Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker’s role in the hearings. "It’s critical for Wicker to hold his ground. This isn’t just about Pete—it’s about how the Democrats plan to obstruct Trump’s entire agenda,” he added.

Bannon pointed to a poll by The Daily Signal showing that 50% of bureaucrats in the federal government plan to resist Trump’s administration. He tied this resistance directly to the tone set by Democratic senators during the confirmation hearing.

"When bureaucrats see this kind of grandstanding, it sends a signal that it’s okay to resist the president’s directives,” Bannon warned.

For Bannon, the attacks on Hegseth are part of a broader strategy to undermine Trump’s presidency. He noted that the Democrats are not just opposing policies—they’re signaling open defiance.

"This isn’t going to stop with Pete Hegseth,” Bannon said. "Every nominee, every executive order, every policy will face this level of resistance. Trump’s team needs to be ready for war.”

Bannon also took aim at media outlets, particularly MSNBC and Rachel Maddow, accusing them of amplifying Democratic attacks. "Maddow’s 28-minute opening monologue last night was nothing short of a declaration of war on Trump’s transition,” he said.

As the hearing promised to continue late into the evening and deep into the Trump administration, Bannon urged Trump supporters to stay vigilant. "This is going to be a daily fight. Democrats are in full attack mode, and they’re not pulling any punches,” he said.

Bannon concluded with a rallying cry for the WarRoom posse: "Pete Hegseth is giving as good as he gets, but he needs support. This isn’t just about one man—it’s about defending the agenda that put Trump in office.”

For more context, watch Bannon give his reaction to the Pete Hegseth hearing: