Trump Reaffirms Support for Pete Hegseth Amid Allegations and Senate Scrutiny

President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his unwavering support for Pete Hegseth, declaring that the Fox News host remains his choice for Secretary of Defense despite mounting allegations and concerns raised by some Senate Republicans.

On Friday, Trump took to Truth Social to assert that Hegseth, a Princeton and Harvard-educated Army combat veteran, would be a “fantastic, high-energy” Pentagon leader.

Trump firmly threw his full support behind Pete Hegseth. Getty Images

“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. He emphasised that Hegseth’s charisma and leadership would make him stand out. “Pete is a WINNER, and nothing can be done to change that!!!”

Hegseth, 44, has been actively working to secure Senate backing for his nomination, visiting Capitol Hill this week to address allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement during his time leading Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America (CVA). Despite the allegations, Republican Senators, including Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), have called for a thorough vetting process before deciding on his confirmation.

However, sources close to the situation told The Post that behind closed doors, there is little opposition to Hegseth’s nomination, with only a few “no” votes potentially threatening his confirmation. Hegseth shared that President-elect Trump encouraged him to “keep going, keep fighting” during their conversation on Wednesday.

A recent New Yorker article detailed serious accusations from former staffers of CVA, including claims that Hegseth was intoxicated while on the job and created a hostile work environment. The article also described an alleged incident where Hegseth brought colleagues to a strip club during a trip to Louisiana in 2014, a claim that Hegseth’s supporters have vehemently denied.

Former senior advisers to Hegseth, including Sean Parnell, have dismissed the accusations, calling them “insane” and untrue. Parnell denied the claims of inappropriate behaviour during staff trips, noting that while staff occasionally went out for drinks after events, it was not as described in the article.

Additionally, a January 2016 email indicated that Hegseth had been “forced out” of CVA over concerns about misuse of the organisation’s funds. However, a letter obtained by The Post from a former CVA trustee revealed that Hegseth’s resignation was voluntary and tied to disagreements over foreign policy.

The president-elect said Hegseth is “doing very well.” Getty Images

Hegseth’s personal life has also been under scrutiny, with reports of past marital issues and a controversial email from his mother, Penelope Hegseth, calling him an “abuser of women.” The Hegseths have both denied these reports, with Penelope expressing frustration at the media for publishing her private email, although she later apologised.

In an interview with Megyn Kelly, Hegseth compared his current predicament to the confirmation battle faced by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, when sexual assault allegations nearly derailed his nomination. Hegseth claimed that some members of the Senate see the allegations against him as part of a larger strategy to undermine his nomination.

Despite the challenges, Trump’s firm backing continues to fuel Hegseth’s confirmation campaign. There have been reports that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also being considered a potential alternative for the role of Secretary of Defense should Hegseth’s confirmation face further complications.