Politics

NEW: Trump Breaks Silence, Issues Major Statement On Pete Hegseth’s Nomination

Published

1 week ago

December 6, 2024

Pete Hegseth still has the president-elect in his corner.

In a strongly-worded statement on Truth Social, Donald Trump commended his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense for staying in the fight amid a bruising series of mainstream media stories alleging he sexually harassed female employees and mismanaged veterans charities while drinking on the job. Politico reported on Trump’s statement declaring Hegseth’s “support is strong and deep” within his transition team as well as the broader MAGA movement. It’s no secret that the Republican leader has been closely listening to demands by grassroots activists to keep his best nominees from withdrawing in the wake of Matt Gaetz’s exit from the confirmation process for U.S. attorney general.

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“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”

Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News anchor, has spent most of the past week glad-handing with U.S. senators eager to find reasons for dismissing stories by the New Yorker and New York Times about his alleged past behavior. At the forefront is Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) who on Thursday told Fox News that she had a “frank” conversation about Hegseth that also likely included his opposition to female soldiers serving in combat, a position Ernst held in the Iraq War. Others on the fence are believed to be Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME). President-elect Trump can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still see Hegseth confirmed. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been cool to Trump’s idea about bypassing majority votes in favor of unprecedented recess appointments.

Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, said his client has agreed to a full FBI background check, as the agency will “actually do a full investigation, look at everything from both sides, and not just take anonymous uncorroborated statements and run with them.” In doing so, Parlatore explained, Hegseth hopes to allay fears that he mismanaged funds or developed a drinking problem that interfered with his workplace duties in the years following his National Guard service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Although aides to Trump have floated the idea of replacing Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, conservative leaders are not giving up the fight. On Wednesday the Heritage Foundation announced a $1 million blitz campaign to target five senators it sees as critical to the defense nominee’s confirmation while conservative activists online have promised to recruit a primary challenger against Ernst in 2026 if she does not vote to confirm him.