The President-elect Donald Trump dismissed as “fake news” the accusations of sexual abuse and alcohol against Pete Hegseth, and doubled down on his support for him for the position of Secretary of Defense, asserting that he is “a winner.”
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The accusations against the 44-year-old military veteran persist. However, the new leader is maintaining his nomination, thus weakening the rumors that he was already considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Mike Waltz to replace Hegseth.
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“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more than the fake news would have you believe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, where he highlighted that the former Fox News host “will be a fantastic high-energy Secretary of Defense.”
He highlighted Hegseth's career as "a great student" at Harvard "with a military mindset. He will be a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense."
He emphasized that he will be a great Secretary of Defense, "one who leads with charisma and skill... Pete is a winner, and there's nothing that can be done to change that!!!".
Pete Hegseth seeks support in the Senate
The New York Post reported that throughout this week, Pete Hegseth has been visiting the Capitol in search of support from senators, who will ultimately approve or reject his nomination for the position of Secretary of Defense.
"I had a call with the president-elect this morning, and he said, 'Keep going, keep fighting,'" Hegseth told reporters last Wednesday.
One of the accusations against the war veteran is from a woman who claimed he raped her in 2017 during a women's conference, however, Hegseth stated that it was consensual sex.
One of the most overwhelming accusations came from the former presenter's own mother, Penelope Hegseth, as an email surfaced in which she tells him in the midst of his first wife's separation: "You are an abuser of women, that is the ugly truth and I do not respect any man who belittles, lies, deceives, sleeps with, and uses women for his own power and ego."
However, later the woman defended her son, asserting that his words were in a moment of emotional frenzy. "I want people to look at Pete and understand him for who he is today, to ignore the media, most of that was misinformation," Penelope said on 'Fox and Friends'.
Additionally, there are reports that Donald Trump's nominee was a frequent visitor to a strip club in Louisiana, where he had to be dragged off the stage as he tried to join the strippers.
What is the Republican senators' position on Pete Hegseth?
The Post reported that sources from the Republican Party revealed that the majority of senators from this side are in favor of approving Hegseth's nomination, with only four votes against that could hinder his appointment.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), an Army veteran and survivor of sexual assault, is in favor of voting for Hegseth, although she is calling for a very thorough investigation. Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham, from South Carolina, said that the allegations are concerning.