Financial reports show the potential defense secretary’s pay from past speaking and writing, some of which provided fodder for senators during his confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the Pentagon, earned more than $6 million over the last two years thanks to income as a Fox News host, book royalties and speaking fees, according to his financial disclosure statement.

Hegseth delivered 41 paid speeches across the country over the last two years, earning $900,000 along the way.

Pete Hegseth has dismissed the role of women in the military in past interviews and in his own writing. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said during a November appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast.

Pete Hegseth came under fire from Senators of both parties weighing his nomination to lead the Defense Department over his past comments about women serving in the military, putting the first of Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks to face a hearing on the defensive.

Why should women in our military, if you were the Secretary of Defense, believe that they would have a fair shot and an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks?”

Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing stiff criticism from Democrats—but most Republicans back him.