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The selection for President-elect Trump To lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth appears to be on track to get GOP Senate confirmation despite facing a handful of allegations ranging from sexual assault , excessive alcohol consumption and mismanagement of funds, all of which he has denied.
A Republican senator told Fox News Digital they were not aware of any GOP senators who are a “hardliner” to confirm Hegseth.
Hegseth “of course” does not He appears to be in a position where he may feel pressured to withdraw, they added.
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Pete Hegseth addresses a meeting with Sen. Ted Budd, RNC, at the Russell Building on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. (Tom Williams/Getty Images)
That’s a stark contrast to the picture for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s previous pick for attorney general, who faced several decisive “no” votes from senators.
Combating the significant lack of support that was given more openly behind closed doors, Gaetz withdrew from the process just days after being selected.
Republicans will have a 53-47 majority in the upcoming Senate, and there is only room for Trump nominees to lose a few Republican votes, assuming no Democrats decide to support them.
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Gaetz withdrew from the confirmation process. (Reuters)
However, as relayed by the Republican senator, Hegseth does not appear to have lost any Republicans in the upper chamber at this point, including more moderate lawmakers such as Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
Hegseth met with both this week on Capitol Hill. According to Collins, “I had a good substantive discussion that went on for over an hour.”
“We covered a wide range of topics from defense procurement reforms to the role of women in the military, sexual assault in the military. Ukraine, NATO, a wide range of issues . Obviously, I always wait until we have an FBI background check and one is underway on Mr. Hegseth’s case, and I look forward to seeing the committee hearing before I make a final decision.”
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Collins met with Hegseth over a long period of time. (Mark Mackel)
Murkowski declined to discuss his meeting with Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, when asked by reporters.
Trump’s defense secretary pick has also met twice Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. After their first meeting earlier this month, Ernst admitted to Fox News that he still wasn’t sold on Hegseth. But after their second meeting this week, he released a statement, saying: “As I support Pete in this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources.”
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Ernst and Hegseth met twice. (Drew Anger/Getty Images)
Ernst is notably the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate and also serves on the Armed Services Committee. She is also a survivor of sexual assault, of which Hegseth has been accused but denied.
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The turning tide, apparently in favor of Hegseth’s confirmation, was articulated by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, to reporters. “You can feel the difference this week from last week,” he said.
“Kash (Patel) won’t have a problem. Tulsi (Gabbard) won’t have a problem. People will ask the questions they should ask, but they will be confirmed,” he added of others somewhat controversial. Trump chooses.
