Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono ignited an internet frenzy during her fiery confrontation with defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing Tuesday in which she hounded him on

Hirono asked Hegseth about allegations of excessive drinking on the job. She also questioned him on taking over Greenland, as President-elect Donald Trump has suggested, and whether he would follow unlawful orders from Trump, including shooting protestors.

Would Pete Hegseth carry out an order to shoot American protesters on American streets? His reluctance to give a straight answer spoke volumes.

Pete Hegseth has been pelted with questions since his confirmation hearing for secretary of defense started Tuesday morning. During the

Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono was criticized on social media for her questioning of President-elect Trump's secretary of Defense nominee, Pete Hegseth.

Hawaii, was the first senator to question Pete Hegseth about the sexual assault allegation against the defense secretary pick. Hirono also spoke to Hegseth about his past comments on women in the military and President-elect Trump's aspirations for Greenland.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, has publicly faced senators for the first time.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) asked Pete Hegseth whether he would carry out an order to shoot protesters in the leg, citing reports President-elect Donald Trump ordered a predecessor to do so during his first term.

Trump's picks to lead four federal agencies testified without the flashes of anger that marked Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi's earlier showdowns.

Hirono’s Ineffectual Attack on Hegseth Backfires** In a dramatic confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pe

Hawaii, questioned Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, during his confirmation hearing Tuesday at the Capitol in Washington. KENNY HOLSTON / NEW YORK TIMES Sen. Mazie Hirono,