Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the Pentagon, was on Capitol Hill another day pleading for support from Republican senators, during which he fielded several questions from reporters.
The retired military veteran and co-host of “Fox & Friends” met with Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican. Mike Rounds, RS.D. Ron Johnson, Republican, Wisconsin. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas; Thursday with Republican Sen. Jim Banks and Sen.-elect.
The meeting followed Hegseth's meeting earlier in the week with other Republican senators, including Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Also included is Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-Democrat).
Mr Hegseth has faced a mountain of criticism, with accusations ranging from financial mismanagement to alcoholism to sexual misconduct. Nevertheless, Mr. Hegseth said Thursday while walking between meetings at the Capitol that President Trump has his “total” support.
Trump floats DeSantis as possible replacement for defense secretary if Hegseth is ousted
President-elect Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, walks through the basement of the Capitol building on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“I'll tell you why I support him,” Scott told reporters after his meeting with Hegseth on Thursday. “I respect people who are willing to put on the uniform and lead their troops into battle. … When he comes into the Department of Defense, he will come in with a mindset of taking care of our warfighters. ”
Scott added that he would “do everything” to secure Hegseth's approval.
“Pete Hegseth has no intention of leaving the media or the Pentagon bureaucracy,” Banks added after a one-on-one meeting with the defense nominee. “And he's not going to back down from China, Russia, Iran. He's going to help President Trump make America strong again.”
President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, speaks to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds (R.S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Capitol in Washington. answered. 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
On the sidelines of a meeting at the Capitol on Thursday, Hegseth was pressed about his meeting with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) the day before. Ms. Ernst said early Thursday morning that she was not yet ready to announce her support.
Is Pete Hegseth's tattoo a symbol of “Christian nationalism”?
Questions abounded during his meeting with Lowndes, and Hegseth said of his meeting with Ernst, “It was a productive meeting. It was great.”
“It was constructive and frank. It was great,” Hegseth told another reporter.
Asked whether the allegations about him were a topic of conversation with Ernst, Hegseth declined to comment further, citing the private nature of the conversation.
Sen. Mike Rounds (left), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaks with President-elect Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“It's been a great process,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday. “There is an incredible amount of knowledge in the United States Senate, on the Senate Armed Services Committee, of men and women who have studied these issues and invested their lives. As someone who wants it, I welcome that knowledge and advice, and that's why we're at meetings like this.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hegseth's meeting on Thursday coincided with a visit to Capitol Hill by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The two met on Capitol Hill to discuss with Thune his new role running President-elect Trump's Office of Government Efficiency.
