President-elect Donald Trump made clear on Friday that he is still currently behind Pete Hegseth to be defense secretary in his second administration, as the combat veteran and Fox News host battles to shore up enough support from senators on the Hill to be confirmed. 

What You Need To Know

  • President-elect Donald Trump made clear on Friday that he is still currently behind Pete Hegseth to be defense secretary in his second administration 
  • “Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media site, Truth Social Friday morning
  • Faced with a spate of recent controversies, including an alleged sexual assault in 2017 and media report detailing accusations of concerns about his drinking habits, sexual behavior and financial management in previous roles, Hegseth has spent the week meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill that will be critical to whether or not he gets enough votes to secure the Cabinet post

“Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump wrote in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, on Friday morning. "His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe."

Trump went on to say Hegseth would be a “fantastic” and “high energy” defense secretary.

“Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump’s post concluded. 

Vice President-elect JD Vance doubled down on Trump’s post, taking to X to write that their team is “fighting for Pete Hegseth.”

“We've got his back,” Vance added. 

Faced with a spate of recent controversies, including an alleged sexual assault in 2017 and media report detailing accusations of concerns about his drinking habits, sexual behavior and financial management in previous roles, Hegseth has spent the week meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, conversations that will be critical to whether or not he gets enough votes to secure the Cabinet post. He also has faced questions about his beliefs on women serving in combat roles. 

Hegseth can only lose three votes from GOP senators if all Democrats are against him. 

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a key member of the Armed Services Committee and the first woman combat veteran to serve in the Senate, said on Fox News that she had a “frank and productive discussion” with Hegseth this week but declined to say she would back him. 

Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and his attorney told CNN on Thursday that the defense secretary pick’s name has been submitted to the FBI for a background check, declaring that would put the “false stories” in the media “completely to bed.”

Multiple outlets reported this week that Trump is weighing other options for the job, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Hegseth has pledged to stay in the running for as long as Trump back him.