Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s embattled pick for Defense secretary, spent Wednesday racing to keep his nomination moving forward amid growing scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
He reiterated Wednesday afternoon that he wouldn’tback down from the fight. In an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, he condemned the press for what he described as a “manufactured media takedown” of him.
He also appeared on conservative commentator Megyn Kelly’s radio show vowing to fight on.
But the Journal had, only hours before, carried a report that Trump was considering asking his old rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), to supplant Hegseth as his pick to lead the Pentagon.
Hegseth has been the subject of accusations of sexual assault stemming from a 2017 encounter he says was consensual, as well as claims of being drunk at work and mismanagement of funds while running two veterans organizations.
Even as Hegseth put a brave face on the state of his nomination fight, Trump issued no social media missives in his defense.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill that Trump hadindeed approached DeSantis about the Defense job and that the Florida governor was “seriously considering” the position.
The Trump team, widely reported to have been blindsided by allegations of personal misconduct by Hegseth, is also said to be considering other options too. The Associated Press reported one such possibility was moving Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) from his current nomination to be national security adviser to instead take the helm at the Pentagon.
The stakes are high for every player in the furor — as well as for some on its fringes.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
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Essential Reads
How policy will affect defense and national security now and in the future:
Hegseth nomination sinking fast in the Senate
Senate Republicans say Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s choice to head the Defense Department, faces a very tough path to confirmation in the Senate and his bleak prospects have been communicated directly to the Trump transition team, which is now mulling other options. Senate sources say there is a block of likely “hard no’s” in the Senate GOP conference and identify Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) …
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The Memo: Hegseth troubles open up Trump World palace intrigue
President-elect Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth to be secretary of Defense was listing badly but had not yet capsized on Wednesday evening. Hegseth stuck several notes of defiance, penning a Wall Street Journal op-ed and appearing on conservative commentator Megyn Kelly’s radio show vowing to fight on. But the Journal had, only hours before, carried a report that Trump was considering asking his old rival, Florida Gov. Ron …
Full Story
Hegseth slams ‘manufactured media takedown’ of him in WSJ op-ed
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, condemned the press for what he described as a “manufactured media takedown” of him. “The press is peddling anonymous story after anonymous story, all meant to smear me and tear me down. It’s a textbook manufactured media takedown,” the military veteran wrote in an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. …
Full Story
On Our Radar
Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:
The Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trumpwill hold a final hearing entitled “Secret Service Security Failures and the Attempts to Assassinate President-Elect Donald J. Trump,” at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
Trump’s FBI pick Kash Patel targeted in Iranian cyberattack
Kash Patel, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, was among those targeted by an Iranian cyber attack. It’s unclear whether any information was gained through the attack, but it makes Patel the latest figure in the Trump campaign to be pursued by the nation. Semafor first reported the …
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On Tap Tomorrow
Events in and around the defense world:
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will hold a virtual discussion on “How the Global Strike Command is evolving in an era of peer competition,” with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, at 9 a.m.
The House Select Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Committee will hold a hearing on the U.S. defense industrial base and workforce at 9:30 a.m.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies will have an online talk on “Examining People’s Republic of China Activities in the Arctic,” with Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris Ferguson, at 9:30 a.m.
The Hudson Institute will host a conversation on “Taiwan’s Security Needs for the Next U.S. Administration,” at 11 a.m.
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold a hearing on “The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes,” at 2:30 p.m.
The atlantic Council will have a virtual discussion on “Russo-Ukrainian war,” with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko; and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, at 4 p.m.
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
A-10s are being spotted in Syria. Here’s how they’re being used. (Military Times)
2 sailor deaths and alcohol restrictions mark the arrival of Navy aircraft carrier to Japan home port (Military.com)
Trending Today
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
What to know about the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
A manhunt is underway in New York for the suspect who shot the CEO of the country’s largest private health insurer Wednesday morning. Police … Read more
Trump names Billy Long as IRS head
President-elect Trump said he would nominate former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) to serve as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in a … Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
Putin’s overseas empire is collapsing all at once — don’t let up on him now
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Claire Salas is a news writer with Premium News Updates, where she covers lifestyle, books, sports, and education. She's also a technology enthusiast who loves to keep up with the latest trends in gaming. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on walks, and getting lost in a good book.
