Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Protection, is ramping up his pitch to steer the Pentagon with back-to-back conferences on Capitol Hill.
Since his nomination, Hegseth has been assembly privately with senators in Washington, D.C., in an effort to earn their assist forward of his affirmation listening to subsequent yr.
Hegseth was again on the Hill for a second day on Wednesday, assembly first with incoming Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is about to be the Armed Providers Committee chair, forward of a vital assembly with incoming Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D.
The nominee has confronted a collection of consuming and sexual misconduct allegations, all of which he has denied, since being tapped for the highest administration position.
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Pete Hegseth, middle, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Protection secretary, makes his method to a gathering with Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., within the Russell Constructing on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Tom Williams)
A number of sources confirmed to Fox Information that Trump is reportedly contemplating nominating Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as Protection secretary instead of Hegseth amid the allegations towards him.
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Nonetheless, Hegseth dismissed the potential alternative, telling reporters that he spoke with Trump on Wednesday morning, who reportedly advised him to “preserve going, preserve preventing.”
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, middle, and his spouse Jennifer Rauchet stroll by way of the Hart Senate Workplace constructing on Dec. 3, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker)
“Why would I again down?” Hegseth mentioned. “I’ve all the time been a fighter. I’m right here for the conflict fighters.”
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Hegseth added that he could be “assembly all day with senators.”
Fox Information’ Bret Baier, Paul Steinhauser and Invoice Melugin contributed to this report.
