Trump publicly shows support for choice of embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday made his first public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled pick for defense secretary, since Hegseth began touring the Capitol to address Republican senators amid allegations of misconduct.
“Pete Hegseth is doing great. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote on his social media.
“He was an excellent student – educated at Princeton/Harvard – with a military mindset. He will be a fantastic and energetic Secretary of Defense, someone who leads with charisma and competence. Pete is a WINNER, and he There’s nothing that can be done to change that,” Trump added.
The message comes after Trump’s public silence as Hegseth met with Republican senators every day this week over new allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, public drunkenness and other personal misconduct.
THE The New Yorker reported complaints this weekend. ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine’s story.
Hegseth denied the accusations but told senators he was a “changed” man and pledged not to drink alcohol if confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
ABC News previously reported that Trump did not work the phones for Hegseth as he did for Matt Gaetz, who has also faced sexual assault allegations. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his name.
But Hegseth vowed Thursday not to back down as he wrapped up his talks with the senators who will be tasked with his confirmation.
“The conversations were intense, sometimes frank,” he said. “There are big questions about politics, personality, everything, so we’re going to win those votes, fighting all the way down the stretch.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, responds to reporters during a meeting with Senator Mike Rounds, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, December 5, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
However, its confirmation remains far from certain. The Republicans will have a narrow majority of three seats in the Senate next year.
Trump’s team, ABC News reported, focused on determining where the nine Republican senators stood on Hegseth. So far, a key Republican woman on the Armed Services Committee — Joni Ernst — notably has yet to support Hegseth. Two senators – Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Katie Britt of Alabama – supported Hegseth.
Several Republican senators have said they would like background checks on nominees chosen by Trump’s Cabinet.
Multiple sources, including a Trump transition official, confirmed to ABC News that Hegseth would undergo an FBI background check. Hegseth informed the transition team earlier this week that he would be willing to receive the check.
Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, said on CNN on Thursday that Hegseth’s name had been submitted to the FBI and that the FBI had given them the necessary forms on Wednesday.
“I expect the background check to weed out a lot of the misinformation that has been circulating in the media and put it completely to bed. I think the surprise you’re going to find is how false all of it is. reporting was,” Parlatore said.
