WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump publicly expressed his backing for Pete Hegseth, the controversial pick to head the Defense Department, as doubts linger regarding his confirmation in the Senate. Hegseth is under scrutiny due to allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault, and his stances regarding women in combat roles.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well,” Trump shared on his social media platform. “He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense.” The president went on to assert, “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Throughout the past week, Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, aiming to secure his Cabinet nomination and reassure Republican senators of his qualifications to lead the Pentagon under Trump’s administration.
He has publicly pledged to abstain from alcohol while serving and asserted to lawmakers that he has never been involved in any form of sexual misconduct, despite facing heightened examination regarding his professional views on female military personnel. Hegseth had recently stated that women “straight up” should not participate in combat.
Trump has nominated a series of loyal candidates who deny the validity of the 2020 election results to form his administration, with the goal of reshaping the federal government and addressing personal grievances against perceived adversaries.
However, this plan has encountered some pushback. Two of Trump’s other nominees have withdrawn amid intense criticism: former congressman Matt Gaetz, initially chosen for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff originally selected to head the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In light of the challenges surrounding Hegseth’s confirmation process, Trump’s transition team is exploring possible alternatives, including the former rival of Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, should Hegseth’s nomination falter.
