Pete Hegseth, who Donald Trump picked to be defense secretary, pledged today to continue to fight for the role, even as several Republican senators have already expressed concern about allegations that he committed sexual assault and drank to excess. Hegseth met this afternoon with senators whose voters could be crucial.
One vote that lawmakers believe to be especially crucial is Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa. She is the Senate’s first female combat veteran and many Republican officials believe that without her approval, his chances for confirmation are as good as dead. After meeting with Hegseth yesterday, she said today that he had yet to earn her support.
On Capitol Hill today, Hegseth dismissed questions about his past conduct, including allegations of sexual impropriety and mismanagement of his veterans nonprofits. He insisted he is now a different person, adding: “That’s a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate.”
Some people close to Trump suggested that there was a “less than 50 percent” chance that Hegseth will get confirmed, our politics reporter Jonathan Swan said. “Even as Donald Trump has insisted to Hegseth himself that he’s got his back, Trump has been very seriously entertaining the idea of replacing Hegseth,” Jonathan said.
In other politics news:
Hegseth has praised the brutal religious military campaigns of the past and has called for a Christian approach to governing.
The Trump Organization is expected to announce an ethics policy without a ban on foreign deals.
Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that seek to undermine the dollar’s global reserve currency status. Experts suggest it could have the opposite effect.
The president-elect’s choice for attorney general is known for her charm and fealty to him.