‘I Believe Him’: Moderate GOP Senator Signals Support For Pete Hegseth

Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed his confidence in Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for Secretary of Defense. Despite lingering allegations of misconduct surrounding Hegseth, Cramer suggested he sees no reason to oppose the nomination at this stage.

Cramer’s remarks come as Hegseth continues to court Republican support in the Senate, where his nomination will face a challenging confirmation process. While Cramer described himself as “friendly” toward the nominee, he warned Hegseth that not all members of the committee would be as accommodating.

In an interview Thursday, Cramer relayed his belief in Hegseth’s commitment to the role and readiness to lead. Cramer, often viewed as a moderate within the GOP, has a Heritage Action session score of 48% and a lifetime score of 56%, placing him below the average Senate Republican score of 62%.

“I give him the benefit of the doubt,” Cramer said. “I am ready to be supportive of getting him to that point. I’m ready to get him in front of the committee. I did warn him. I said, ‘you know, not everybody on the committee is as friendly as I am,’ which I don’t think surprised him. But I also said, there’s nobody on the committee that doesn’t earn our respect.”

Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, has been a polarizing figure since being nominated. Allegations of professional and personal misconduct have raised questions about his suitability for the position. Still, Cramer appears willing to give Hegseth the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that the accusations remain unverified and originate from anonymous sources.

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One key concern was Hegseth’s ability to remain available and accountable at all hours, including abstaining from alcohol.

“My commitment I was looking for was that he won’t drink, he won’t touch alcohol, and that he’d be ready for a phone call at 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and every hour in between,” Cramer said. “I thought that was a good way to put it.”

While other lawmakers, including Republican Senator Schmitz (R-MO), have stated that Hegseth is currently abstaining from alcohol, Cramer clarified that his focus was on the nominee’s future conduct rather than his present habits. “I didn’t ask him if he’s had a drink today or if he’s currently drinking,” Cramer explained. “My concern is that he won’t.”

“I believe him,” Cramer said firmly. “At this point, I see no reason not to support him. Frankly, we’ll see what else happens, but yeah, I want to be supportive. I wanted to be supportive of him from the very beginning.”

Hegseth’s nomination remains a flashpoint for debate. For now, moderate Republicans like Cramer appear inclined to offer him the opportunity to make his case before the Armed Services Committee. Whether Hegseth can secure enough support to navigate the confirmation process remains to be seen.

Trump’s advisers recognize that Hegseth’s confirmation hinges on the narrow GOP Senate majority, particularly the votes of the female senators.

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