Trump maintains support for Hegseth
Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich explains the most recent on President-elect Trump publicly supporting his nomination of Pete Hegseth for protection secretary on Truth Social and extra on ‘Special Report.’
President-elect Trump expressed public assist for embattled defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth Friday, and the nominee stated he had a “substantive dialog” with Sen. Joni Ernst.
Hegseth, a former National Guard officer, has been meeting with Republican senators this week to rally assist as allegations of sexual misconduct and extreme ingesting have surfaced. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ernst has not dedicated to voting for Hegseth.
“Looks like Pete is doing nicely now,” Trump advised Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” Friday. “I imply, folks have been a little bit bit involved. He’s a younger man with an amazing observe report, truly. Went to Princeton, went to Harvard. He was a great scholar at each, however he loves the navy. And I feel individuals are beginning to see it. So, we’ll be engaged on his nomination together with plenty of others.”
PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL BE ‘STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT’ AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS
President-elect Trump gave his public assist to embattled protection secretary choose Pete Hegseth Friday, and the nominee stated he had a “substantive dialog” with Sen. Joni Ernst. (Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images; AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump confirmed he nonetheless has confidence in Hegseth.
“He’s a really sensible man,” Trump stated. “I’ve recognized him via Fox, however I’ve recognized him for a very long time. I imply, he is mainly a navy man. I imply, each time I speak to him, all he needs to speak about is the navy.”
Trump stated that whereas he did not have assurances from senators that his nomination can be confirmed, he believes he’ll get it via.
“I’ve had plenty of senators calling me up saying he is improbable,” Trump stated.
Asked by Welker in regards to the allegations of extreme ingesting, Trump stated, “Well, I’ve spoken to those who know him very nicely, and so they say he doesn’t have a ingesting downside.”
INCOMING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ADDRESSES TRUMP’S SUPPORT OF HEGSETH
Trump additionally supported Hegseth on Truth Social on Friday, writing, “Pete Hegseth is doing very nicely. His assist is powerful and deep. He was an awesome scholar – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military way of thinking. He shall be a improbable, excessive vitality, Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and talent. Pete is a WINNER, and there may be nothing that may be finished to alter that.”
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters after a closed-door lunch assembly with Senate Republicans on the U.S. Capitol Oct. 17, 2023, in Washington, D.C. ( Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Hegseth wrote on his X account Friday: “I simply had one other substantive dialog with Senator Ernst, I respect her honest dedication to protection coverage, and I sit up for assembly along with her once more subsequent week.”
Ernst additionally known as their assembly “constructive” on her account, including that the 2 plan to meet again subsequent week.
“Pete Hegseth and I’ll proceed our constructive conversations as we transfer ahead collectively on this course of. We plan to satisfy once more subsequent week. At a minimal, we agree that he deserves the chance to put out his imaginative and prescient for our warfighters at a good listening to,” she stated.
Vice President-elect JD Vance additionally advised reporters Friday that Hegseth has the incoming administration’s full assist and gained’t face a “sham listening to earlier than the American media.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be protection secretary, walks via the basement of the Capitol Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
TRUMP FLOATS DESANTIS AS POTENTIAL DEFENSE SECRETARY REPLACEMENT IF HEGSETH FALTERS
“Pete Hegseth goes to get his listening to earlier than the Senate Armed Forces Committee, not a sham listening to earlier than the American media,” Vance advised reporters whereas in North Carolina. “We consider Pete Hegseth is the precise man to steer the Department of Defense. That’s why Trump nominated him. We’re not abandoning this nomination.
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“I totally assist Pete. I feel Pete’s going to get confirmed, and we’re utterly behind him. I’ve talked to Joni [Ernst]. I’ve talked to a variety of my colleagues about this nomination and about different nominations. All I’m asking is folks truly permit the Senate nomination course of to work. We don’t decide essential authorities officers primarily based on nameless sourcing from the American media.”
