During his Senate confirmation hearing, Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, faced intense questioning about his past. One exchange, however, has garnered significant online attention: his inability to name a single member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In a now-viral moment viewed millions of times, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned Hegseth’s understanding of ASEAN, acknowledging his mentions of the Indo-Pacific region. She then asked him to name an ASEAN nation, detail any U.S. agreements with that nation, and state the total number of ASEAN member countries.
Hegseth admitted he didn’t know the exact number of ASEAN nations, mentioning alliances with South Korea, Japan, and Australia (through AUKUS) instead.
Duckworth pointed out that none of those countries are ASEAN members, advising him to better prepare for future negotiations.
ASEAN, a significant regional bloc with a long history, comprises ten countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. While not a military alliance, the U.S. maintains defense alliances with some members and considers others major security partners.
Former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) shared the video clip, questioning Hegseth’s qualifications. She expressed concern over his lack of knowledge regarding ASEAN and U.S. international security agreements.
Many social media users echoed these concerns, expressing both amusement and alarm at Hegseth’s lack of awareness. Some labeled his response as hilariously terrifying and indicative of significant geopolitical ignorance.
The anti-Trump organization VoteVets called it a “defining moment,” while others deemed Hegseth woefully unqualified.
Conversely, some defended Hegseth, claiming unfamiliarity with ASEAN despite a lifetime of following geopolitics. They suggested the questions were intentionally obscure and irrelevant “gotcha” questions.
Former Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) argued that the line of questioning was inappropriate, suggesting Hegseth’s focus on Japan, South Korea, and AUKUS was understandable given the context of Indo-Pacific defense agreements.
Responding to Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) praise of Hegseth’s hearing performance, another user highlighted the irony of a Defense Secretary’s unfamiliarity with key ASEAN nations.
The “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” designed to counter China’s influence, underscores ASEAN’s importance to U.S. interests, emphasizing its central geographic location and significance to U.S. policy.