In the aftermath of his resounding victory in the recent presidential election, Donald Trump has expressed unwavering support for his controversial choice for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, despite a barrage of allegations concerning sexual misconduct and concerns about his drinking habits.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has been thrust into the limelight with his personal life under intense scrutiny following his nomination to head the Pentagon.
According to the Daily Mail, Trump has acknowledged the controversy surrounding Hegseth, but remains undeterred by the criticism. "It looks like Pete is doing well now," Trump told NBC News. "I mean, people were a bit concerned. He's a young guy, with a tremendous track record actually. He went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student at both. But he loves the military and I think people are starting to see it so we'll be working on his nomination along with a lot of others."
Hegseth's nomination has been deemed contentious not only due to his views, such as his stance against women serving in combat roles in the military, but also due to more serious allegations that have surfaced in recent weeks. These include claims of habitual drinking on the job, an accusation of sexual assault in October 2017, and a damning whistleblower report alleging financial mismanagement, sexist behavior, and intoxication at work, leading to his removal from leadership roles at two prominent nonprofit advocacy groups.
The situation was further exacerbated by a 2018 email from Hegseth's mother, published by the New York Times, in which she labeled her son an 'abuser of women.' Ten employees of Fox News, both current and former, expressed concern about Hegseth's drinking, with two noting that he often smelled of alcohol before going on air.
Despite these allegations, Trump has dismissed them as 'fake news' and insists that Hegseth's support is 'strong and deep.' In his NBC interview, Trump expressed confidence in Hegseth's suitability for the role. "He's a very smart guy. I've known him through Fox, but I've known him for a long time," Trump said. "And he's basically a military guy. Every time I talk to him, all he wants to talk about is the military. He's a military guy."
Trump also noted that 'a lot of senators call me up saying he's fantastic.' When asked about Hegseth's alleged struggle with alcohol, which Hegseth has pledged to address if his nomination is successful, Trump responded, 'But I've spoken to people that know him very well and they say he does not have a drinking problem.'
Trump continued to voice his support for Hegseth online, posting on Truth Social that he fully believes Hegseth is a 'winner'. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe," he wrote. "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!!!"
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team dismissed the allegations against Hegseth as 'completely unfounded and false.' However, the string of reports surrounding sexual harassment by Hegseth himself have cast further doubt on his character.
The woman who accused Hegseth of assaulting her at the Republican women's conference in California in 2017 reported the incident to the police, although no charges were ever filed. During an interview with Megyn Kelly, Hegseth admitted that he felt he 'had to' pay off the woman because he was married and up for a new job, and wanted the allegations to go away.
"I paid her because I had to, or at least I thought I did at the time," Hegseth said. "She got lawyers that reached out to mine and said, "If you don't come forward, and if you don't pay money, then ultimately we're going to out him." We were in the middle of a #MeToo movement. I had a great job at Fox and a wonderful marriage."
The whistleblower report detailed an incident at a Louisiana strip club, alleging that Hegseth attempted to join dancers on stage and had to be physically restrained. The report also suggested that his reckless behavior extended to the workplace, creating an environment rife with sexism and impropriety.
There were reports that Trump considered replacing Hegseth with his friend-turned-rival, Ron DeSantis, at the eleventh hour. However, Hegseth, 44, has spent the last week meeting with senators and the president-elect on Capitol Hill, making his case for why he is the right choice for the role.
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