President-Elect Donald Trump is currently supporting Pete Hegseth as his choice for secretary of defense. Sources close to both Trump and Hegseth have revealed that Trump wants Hegseth to actively campaign for votes, leading to Hegseth's assertive presence on Capitol Hill recently.
According to these sources, Trump and his inner circle believe that there is a viable path for Hegseth to be confirmed. They emphasized that the situation with Hegseth differs from that of Matt Gaetz, Trump's previous attorney general nominee who withdrew after failing to secure enough votes.
An adviser in Trump's circle highlighted the distinction, stating, 'This is very different than the situation with Matt Gaetz. With Gaetz, there were clear members who were firm no's, whereas with Pete, there doesn't seem to be a single definitive opposition from GOP senators at this time.'
Trump's team is closely monitoring Hegseth's interactions with senators to assess his confirmation prospects. While acknowledging the fluidity of Senate dynamics, they remain optimistic about Hegseth's chances. Vice President-elect JD Vance, a Hegseth supporter, has been engaging with senators regarding the defense secretary nominee.
Reports suggesting that Trump was considering Ron DeSantis and Joni Ernst as potential replacements for Hegseth irked many of Trump's advisers and allies. They have actively advocated for Hegseth and discouraged Trump from exploring other candidates, citing past criticisms DeSantis made about Trump during a heated primary earlier this year.
