A growing number of senators have privately expressed their reluctance to vote to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s next secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, and Trump advisers have begun discussing a viable replacement, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. .
Sources told ABC News that at least six senators have indicated privately that they do not intend to vote for Hegseth amid allegations of mistreatment of women.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2024. Days after surviving an assassination attempt, Donald Trump secured the formal nomination for the Republican nomination and elected to the right. Loyalist JD Vance for running mate, kicked off a triumphalist party convention in the wake of last weekend’s defeat. the attack
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While Trump and his advisers have said privately that the president-elect supports Hegseth and wants him to “keep fighting,” sources familiar with the private discussions told ABC News that a list of replacements is emerging to replace him. They include Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Representative Mike Waltz of Florida. Trump has already selected him to be national security adviser.
Sources close to DeSantis say he has expressed interest in the role. Today, Trump was spotted attending a memorial service for three Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies in West Palm Beach. He died in an accident last month.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team declined to comment when contacted by ABC News.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks to reporters as she attends a Senate luncheon on November 19, 2024 in Washington, Washington. US President-elect Donald Trump is pressuring the Senate to veto his Cabinet nominees, possibly using Recess Appointments.
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Hegseth returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday seeking to shore up support while fending off allegations of misconduct and sexual misconduct.
The visit came after a report The New Yorker Hegseth was forced to resign from two nonprofit veterans groups — Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America — amid accusations of financial mismanagement, sexist behavior and other disqualifying behavior.
ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine’s account. Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlator, told The New Yorker that the claims were “outrageous.”
