After Matt Gaetz’s defeat, the tide turns in favor of Trump Defense Department nominee Pete Hegseth
President-elect Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegers, appears poised to gain enough Republican Senate support to be confirmed despite facing a series of accusations including sexual assault, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of funds.
One Republican senator told Fox News Digital they were not aware of any Republican senators who were “firmly no” to Hegseth’s confirmation.
They added that Hegseth “certainly” did not appear to be in a position of being forced to quit.
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On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Pete Hegseth went to the Russell Building to meet with Republican Senator Ted Budd. (Tom Williams/Getty Images)
This is very different from Trump’s previous choice for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who repeatedly faced clear “no” votes from senators.
Gaetz withdrew from the process just days after being selected due to a lack of outspoken support behind closed doors.
Republicans will have a 53-47 majority in the next Senate, leaving them with only room to lose a few Republican votes, assuming no Democrats choose to support Trump’s nominee.
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Gates withdrew from the confirmation process. (Reuters)
However, as the Republican senator said, Hegseth does not appear to have lost any Republicans in the upper chamber so far, including Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Moore (R-Alaska). Erkoski and other more moderate lawmakers.
Hegseth met with both of them on Capitol Hill this week. “I had a good substantive discussion that lasted over an hour,” Collins said.
“We discussed a wide range of topics, from defense procurement reform to the role of women in the military, sexual assault in the military. Ukraine, NATO, all kinds of issues. Obviously, I always wait until the FBI does a background check, Then there will be an investigation. “Mr Heggs’ case is ongoing and I will await a hearing before the committee before making a final decision. “
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Collins and Hegseth had met for a long time. (Mark Markla)
When asked by reporters, Murkowski declined to discuss her meeting with former Fox News host Hegseth.
Trump’s pick for defense secretary also met twice with Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. After their first meeting earlier this month, Ernst admitted on Fox News that she was not yet convinced by Hegseth. But after a second meeting this week, she issued a statement saying: “As I support Pete in this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the facts and not anonymous sources.”
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Ernst and Heges met twice. (Drew Angler/Getty Images)
Ernst was the first female veteran elected to the Senate and a member of the Armed Services Committee. She herself is a survivor of sexual assault, which Hegseth has been accused of but denies.
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Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., described the changing trends to reporters as appearing to favor Hegseth’s confirmation. “You can feel the difference this week from last week,” he said.
“Kash [Patel] There will be no problem. tulsi [Gabbard] There will be no problem. People will ask the questions they should ask, but they will be validated,” he added of other controversial Trump picks.
