Trump maintains support for Hegseth
Fox Information senior White Space correspondent Jacqui Heinrich explains the most recent on President-elect Trump publicly supporting his nomination of Pete Hegseth for protection secretary on Reality Social and extra on ‘Particular File.’
President-elect Trump expressed public enhance for embattled defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth Friday, and the nominee mentioned he had a “substantive dialog” with Sen. Joni Ernst.
Hegseth, a former Nationwide Guard officer, has been meeting with Republican senators this week to rally enhance as allegations of sexual misconduct and over the top consuming have surfaced. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ernst has now not dedicated to vote casting for Hegseth.
“Looks as if Pete is doing neatly now,” Trump informed Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” Friday. “I imply, folks have been slightly bit involved. He is a tender man with an amazing monitor report, if truth be told. Went to Princeton, went to Harvard. He was once a excellent pupil at each, however he loves the army. And I believe individuals are beginning to see it. So, we will be running on his nomination together with numerous others.”
PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL BE ‘STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT’ AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS
President-elect Trump gave his public enhance to embattled protection secretary select Pete Hegseth Friday, and the nominee mentioned he had a “substantive dialog” with Sen. Joni Ernst. (Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Photographs; AP Picture/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump showed he nonetheless has self assurance in Hegseth.
“He is a extremely smart man,” Trump mentioned. “I have recognized him via Fox, however I have recognized him for a very long time. I imply, he is mainly an army man. I imply, each time I communicate to him, all he needs to speak about is the army.”
Trump mentioned that whilst he did not have assurances from senators that his nomination could be showed, he believes he’s going to get it via.
“I have had numerous senators calling me up pronouncing he is unbelievable,” Trump mentioned.
Requested via Welker in regards to the allegations of over the top consuming, Trump mentioned, “Smartly, I have spoken to those who know him rather well, they usually say he does now not have a consuming drawback.”
INCOMING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ADDRESSES TRUMP’S SUPPORT OF HEGSETH
Trump additionally supported Hegseth on Reality Social on Friday, writing, “Pete Hegseth is doing rather well. His enhance is powerful and deep. He was once a really perfect pupil – Princeton/Harvard skilled – with a Army frame of mind. He’s going to be an incredible, prime power, Secretary of Protection, one that leads with aura and talent. Pete is a WINNER, and there may be not anything that may be carried out to switch that.”
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to newshounds after a closed-door lunch assembly with Senate Republicans on the U.S. Capitol Oct. 17, 2023, in Washington, D.C. ( Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs)
Hegseth wrote on his X account Friday: “I simply had any other substantive dialog with Senator Ernst, I admire her trustworthy dedication to protection coverage, and I sit up for assembly together with her once more subsequent week.”
Ernst also referred to as their assembly “positive” on her account, including that the 2 plan to meet again subsequent week.
“Pete Hegseth and I can proceed our positive conversations as we transfer ahead in combination on this procedure. We plan to fulfill once more subsequent week. At a minimal, we agree that he merits the chance to put out his imaginative and prescient for our warfighters at an excellent listening to,” she mentioned.
Vice President-elect JD Vance additionally informed newshounds Friday that Hegseth has the incoming management’s complete enhance and received’t face a “sham listening to prior to the American media.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be protection secretary, walks in the course of the basement of the Capitol Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)
TRUMP FLOATS DESANTIS AS POTENTIAL DEFENSE SECRETARY REPLACEMENT IF HEGSETH FALTERS
“Pete Hegseth goes to get his listening to prior to the Senate Armed Forces Committee, now not a sham listening to prior to the American media,” Vance informed newshounds whilst in North Carolina. “We imagine Pete Hegseth is the correct man to guide the Division of Protection. That’s why Trump nominated him. We’re now not leaving behind this nomination.
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“I absolutely enhance Pete. I believe Pete’s going to get showed, and we’re utterly at the back of 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 if truth be told permit the Senate nomination procedure to paintings. We don’t decide vital executive officers in keeping with nameless sourcing from the American media.”
