President-elect Donald Trump on Friday he made his first public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the controversial pick for defense secretary, since Hegseth began making the rounds on Capitol Hill speaking to Republican senators amid allegations of misconduct.
“Pete Hegseth is doing great. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
“He was a brilliant student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a military background. He will be a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that,” he added. says Trump.
The message comes after Trump’s public silence, as Hegseth met daily with GOP senators this week in the face of fresh allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, public drunkenness and other personal behavior.
The The New Yorker reported claims on the weekend. ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine’s account.
Hegseth has denied the accusations, but told senators that he is a “changed” man vowing not to drink alcohol He should confirm that he will be the head of the Pentagon.
ABC News previously reported that Trump did not work the phones for Hegseth as he did for Matt Gaetz, who faced sexual assault allegations. Gaetz, in the end, removed his name from the account.
But Hegseth vowed Thursday not to back down as he wrapped up sit-downs with the senators who will be tasked with his confirmation.
“The conversations have been robust, honest at times,” he said. “There are big questions about politics, personality, everything, so we’re going to win those votes, fighting all the way down the aisle.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, speaks to reporters with Sen. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 5, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
His assertion, however, is far from certain. Republicans will have a narrow three-seat majority in the Senate next year.
Trump’s team, ABC News reported, focused on finding out the whereabouts of Hegseth’s nine female Republican senators. So far, a top female Republican on the Armed Services Committee — Joni Ernst — has been prominent not yet protected Hegseth. Two female senators — Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Katie Britt of Alabama — have endorsed Hegseth.
Several Republican senators have said they would like to see background checks on Trump’s Cabinet picks.
Multiple sources, including a Trump transition official, have confirmed to ABC News that Hegseth will undergo an FBI background check. Hegseth informed the transition team earlier this week that he would be ready to pick up the check.
Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlator, told CNN on Thursday that Hegseth’s name had been submitted to the FBI and that the FBI provided the necessary forms on Wednesday.
“I hope that background checks will take a lot of the false stories that have been spread in the media and put them to bed completely. I think the surprise you’ll find is how false the whole thing has been,” Parlatore said.
