Freshman GOP senator sets social media ablaze with ‘best’ response to Hegseth’s answer on gender question

Conservatives took to social media on Tuesday to express their outrage following a heated exchange between Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and freshman Senator Tim Sheehy on the topic of gender identity. During a Senate confirmation hearing, Sheehy posed the question to Hegseth, asking, “How many genders are there?” to which Hegseth promptly responded, “Senator, there are two genders.”

The exchange took a lighthearted turn when Sheehy, referencing the “she” and “he” in his last name, quipped, “I know that well, I’m a Sheehy, so I’m on board.” Hegseth chuckled at the freshman senator’s joke before Sheehy shifted the conversation to ask Hegseth, a fellow combat veteran, about the diameter of a round fired from an M4A1 rifle and how many pushups he could do.

This line of questioning, particularly the gender discussion that Sheehy had previously joked about during his campaign, immediately drew reactions from conservatives on social media. GOP Congressman Darrell Issa lauded the exchange, while conservative influencer Benny Johnson posed it as the “question of the day.”

Conservative commentator Ian Haworth praised it as the “best joke ever told in Congress,” and radio host Steve Gruber echoed the sentiment, calling it the “best ever.” RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway also weighed in, noting that Sheehy’s approach was a significant improvement over his predecessor, former Democratic Senator Jon Tester.

Conservatives continued to express their support for Sheehy, with commentator Riley Gaines commending Montana for electing him to the Senate. Republican State Senator Wendy Rogers from Arizona also voiced her approval of Sheehy’s performance during the confirmation hearing.

In a follow-up interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Sheehy reiterated his support for Hegseth, emphasizing the importance of backing the warfighter and protecting America. He emphasized that his line of questioning was aimed at highlighting the core responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense.

Overall, the exchange between Hegseth and Sheehy sparked a lively debate on social media, with conservatives rallying behind Sheehy’s approach and expressing their endorsement of his performance during the confirmation hearing.

[Author: Andrew Mark Miller, Reporter at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.]