EPADonald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary says the “left” is trying to smear him with “fake” stories – after reports suggested the US president-elect could replace him.
Trump is considering replacing Pete Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, BBC partner CBS News reported, after Hegseth’s nomination came under intense scrutiny.
Since Trump nominated the former Fox News host, questions have been raised about Hegseth’s qualifications — and a historic sexual assault allegation has surfaced.
Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and has never been arrested or charged.
His nomination has been the subject of increasing scrutiny from members of his own party — including US senators who have the power to confirm his appointment or reject it when asked to vote on it.
“I think some of these articles are very disturbing,” Senator Lindsey Graham told CBS on Tuesday. “He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of these things are going to be difficult.”
DeSantis, who was elected Florida governor in 2018, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Trump declined to say whether DeSantis was under consideration for the post.
DeSantis ran against Trump in the Republican primary, and before dropping out, he was considered by some to be “Trump 2.0” — a Republican who could deliver Trump’s populist agenda without the baggage.
The latest speculation — first reported by the Wall Street Journal — is that Hegseth will meet with members of Congress this week to discuss the job and drum up support.
A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Universities, Hegseth was an infantry captain at Guantanamo Bay and Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
In nominating Hegseth, a former Fox News TV host, Trump highlighted the veteran’s education and his military experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies have taken notice – our military will be great again and America will never back down,” Trump wrote.
But despite being a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 44-year-old lacks the breadth of experience typical of a cabinet position. He will be the second youngest person to serve in the office.
Additionally, after his nomination, a police report detailing allegations of alleged sexual assault in 2017 came out.
The woman cited in the complaint said Fox host Hegseth took her phone and knocked on the hotel room door while she was at a Republican convention in California.
Hegseth denies any wrongdoing, saying the encounter was consensual.
Some of Hegseth’s previous comments about how he might change the Defense Department have also raised eyebrows.
In a recent podcast, Hegseth said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs – the US’s top military leader – “should be fired along with any other military leader who engages in DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)”.
She has argued that women should not serve in combat roles because the practice does not make the military “more effective” or “more lethal”.
There is growing skepticism about Hegseth’s chances of getting enough votes to be confirmed by the Senate, CBS reports.
At least four Republican senators are likely to vote against him if the vote is taken today, two sources told the outlet.
Republicans are expected to hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, which should confirm cabinet-level positions in Trump’s new team. Losing four Republican votes would be enough to sink Hegseth’s nomination, if Democrats and independents also vote against him.
Some Washington lawmakers have questioned the credentials of Hegseth, who has overseen a complex bureaucracy at work.
“I’ll admit that 20 minutes ago I didn’t know who he was,” said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “And he certainly doesn’t seem to have any background in (Department of Defense) policy.”
John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trump’s first presidency, told the BBC that the post of defense secretary should never be a “loyalty appointment”.
“The question is: Will he be a yes man for Donald Trump, or will he act professionally and courageously the way he did when he was in uniform?” Bolton asked.
Hegseth was not Trump’s first controversial appointment before returning to the White House.
Trump also faced scrutiny over sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz, a former Florida congressman whom Trump nominated for US attorney general — which he denied — that were the subject of a congressional report.
Gaetz ultimately withdrew his nomination in late November, saying the controversy against him was “unfairly distracting” from the work of the incoming Trump administration.
North America Correspondent Anthony Zurcher understands US politics in his bi-weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can Sign up here. Those outside the UK can Sign up here.
