Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday he will not withdraw from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's Defense Secretary despite mounting controversies and reports about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis being considered to replace him.
"I'm doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers," said Hegseth in a publication on X. "The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of Donald Trump and me. So they smear with fake anonymous sources & BS stories. They don't want truth. Our warriors never back down, & neither will I," he added.
I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 4, 2024
The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of @realDonaldTrump—and me. So they smear w/ fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want truth.
Our warriors never back down, & neither will I. pic.twitter.com/nDQ5aUlv7i
Approached by a reporter in the Capitol on Wednesday, Hegseth said he spoke with Trump in the morning and he told him to 'keep going, keep fighting." Pressed on whether he is in "all the way," he asked why he would "back down." "I have always been a fighter, I'm here for the fighters. It's a personal passion for me. I'm meeting all day with senators," Hegseth added.
Pete Hegseth, who is at the U.S. Capitol with his wife to meet with senators, says that President-elect Trump told him to keep fighting and that he is not withdrawing his name from consideration despite reports that Trump is considering Ron DeSantis, among others, as a potential… pic.twitter.com/bgKxfwOywL
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 4, 2024
Hegseth's nomination is reportedly in shaky ground as controversies surrounding his personal life continue to grow. According to the Wall Street Journal, President-elect Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of replacing him with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Trump allies are reportedly reviving a list of alternatives to Hegseth as skepticism grows about his ability to secure confirmation in the Senate. Conversations are still in early stages, with Trump floating DeSantis's name during informal talks at his Mar-a-Lago estate, The outlet reported.
Hegseth has faced multiple allegations that have raised doubts about his nomination. A 2017 sexual assault accusation resurfaced recently, as well as reports of a settlement Hegseth paid to his accuser in 2020 to avoid legal action.
Other claims include accusations of heavy drinking and inappropriate conduct during his time leading veterans' nonprofits. Hegseth's drinking habits raised concerns among colleagues during his stint as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend, NBC News reported on Tuesday. The article included interviews with 10 current and former Fox News employees, two of whom said they smelled alcohol on him on multiple occasions before broadcasts, while others pointed to instances when he appeared on air after mentioning that he was hungover.
Hegseth's personal life has also come under scrutiny. In 2018, his mother sent him an email accusing him of being an "abuser of women" during his divorce from his second wife, according to The New York Times. Penelope Hegseth later apologized, calling the email a reaction made in anger.
Senators had privately warned Hegseth about the scrutiny he would face during confirmation hearings. Although no Republicans have publicly opposed his nomination, sources quoted by different outlets say up to six senators may be hesitant to support him. it was not immediately clear who he would meet on Wednesday.
Among the Republican Senators supporting Hegseth are Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who came out to back of the Fox News presenter after a closed door meeting on Monday night.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
