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Former President Donald Trump expressed unwavering support for his nominee to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, as the former Fox News host faces scrutiny over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct.
Speaking with Kristen Welker for Meet the Press in an interview set to air Sunday, Trump dismissed the controversies, calling Hegseth a “military guy” with a “tremendous track record.”
“Pete is doing well now,” Trump said. “He’s a young guy, with a tremendous track record actually. He went to Princeton and Harvard. He loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. We’ll be working on his nomination along with a lot of others.”
The nomination has reportedly raised concerns among at least six Republican senators, with GOP sources indicating discomfort over allegations tied to Hegseth’s behavior. Reports from NBC News revealed that colleagues at Fox News expressed concerns about his drinking, with multiple current and former employees claiming Hegseth smelled of alcohol on air more than a dozen times. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team denied the claims, calling them “completely unfounded and false.”
Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, is also facing backlash over a 2017 sexual assault allegation. According to a California police report made public after his nomination, Hegseth was accused of assaulting a woman. While no charges were filed, Hegseth settled the case privately, maintaining that the encounter was consensual.
Amid mounting scrutiny, Hegseth has been meeting with senators to rally support for his confirmation. Trump, who has been vocal about the dangers of excessive drinking due to personal family history, dismissed concerns about Hegseth’s alleged struggles with alcohol.
“I’ve spoken to people that know him very well, and they say he does not have a drinking problem,” Trump said.
Despite the controversies, Trump remains confident in Hegseth’s ability to lead the Pentagon. “Every time I talk to him, all he wants to talk about is the military. He’s a military guy,” Trump said.
The nomination process is expected to test Trump’s influence among Senate Republicans, as Hegseth’s past behavior continues to dominate discussions.
