West Point has acknowledged it inaccurately informed a media outlet that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, did not get accepted into the institution more than two decades ago.
Earlier Wednesday, Hegseth posted on social media that ProPublica “is planning to publish a knowingly false report that I was not accepted to West Point in 1999” without any additional information. He accompanied that with a picture of his acceptance letter into the institution. Hegseth did not attend West Point but rather Princeton University, graduating in 2003.
A ProPublica editor subsequently acknowledged in response to Hegseth that they had been told by a West Point official that they had no record of his acceptance or even an application for him. That was inaccurate, and West Point later realized it and informed the outlet.
“A review of our records indicates Peter Hegseth was offered admission to West Point in 1999 but did not attend. An incorrect statement involving Hegseth’s admission to the U.S. Military Academy was released by an employee on Dec. 10, 2024,” West Point Directorate of Communications said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Upon further review of an archived database, employees realized this statement was in error. Hegseth was offered acceptance to West Point as a prospective member of the Class of 2003. The academy takes this situation seriously and apologizes for this administrative error.”
Hegseth has faced allegations of sexual assault, mismanaging funds at previous non-profit organizations, and abusing alcohol, which have threatened to derail his nomination. He has denied the sexual assault allegation, which he was never charged for, and said it was a consensual encounter. He has also denied claims of his mismanagement and of having a drinking problem.
As he continues to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Hegseth has been combative toward the media and has claimed the accusations against him amount to a “smear” campaign.
While Republican senators have largely rallied around him, a couple have expressed concerns about his past behavior.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran and victim of sexual assault, has been one of Hegseth’s biggest skeptics within the Republican Party. But she has since expressed an openness to his nomination following a pressure campaign from Trump’s orbit and supporters.
Trump reiterated his support for Hegseth’s nomination last weekend after reports surfaced that he had begun considering alternatives for the job.
During his time in the Army National Guard, Hegseth did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
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ProPublica has been at the forefront of a series of highly publicized stories alleging ethics violations by conservative Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The group is heavily funded by left-wing megadonors who have supported court-packing advocacy groups or efforts to expand the size of the Supreme Court, previous investigations by the Washington Examiner have uncovered.