Former President Donald Trump expressed confidence in selecting former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of excessive drinking and abuse of women.
“Pete seems to be doing well right now,” President Trump said in an exclusive interview with “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker scheduled to air Sunday. He’s a young guy with a really great track record. He went to Princeton, he went to Harvard. He was an excellent student at both. But he loves the military, and I think people are starting to realize that, so we’re going to work with many others to nominate him. ”
Read more about this story and watch Kristen Welker’s full interview on “Meet the Press” Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. ET or check out local listings on NBCNews.com.
NBC News said Tuesday that as many as six Senate Republicans are currently reluctant to support Hegseth’s candidacy, amid a report highlighting concerns among colleagues about Hegseth’s drinking and allegations. is in jeopardy, according to three Republican officials with direct knowledge of the nomination process. sexual misconduct.
NBC News reported Tuesday that 10 current and former employees of the station said Hegseth’s drinking worried his colleagues at Fox News. Two of those sources said they smelled alcohol before Hegseth went on air more than a dozen times. President Trump’s transition spokesperson called the claims “completely baseless and false.”
Separately, Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in California in 2017, according to a detailed police report released after President Trump nominated him. are. He was not charged, and Hegseth said the encounter was consensual. He paid the woman an undisclosed amount as part of the settlement.
This week, Hegseth held a meeting on Capitol Hill to reassure senators and the president-elect.
When Mr. Welker asked if he was confident in the nomination, Mr. Trump said, “Yes, I really am.” “He’s a very smart guy. I got to know him through Fox, but I’ve known him for a long time. And he’s basically a military guy. Every time I talk to him, All I want to talk about is the military. He’s a military man.”
Here are five things to know about Pete Hegseth.
Asked whether senators had assured Trump that Hegseth’s confirmation was possible, Trump said: “A lot of senators have called me and said he’s great.” said.
Mr. Welker noted that Mr. Trump himself does not drink alcohol, and warned of the dangers of excessive drinking. She asked if he was concerned that the man chosen to oversee the U.S. military was struggling with alcohol, according to people who have worked with him.
“But I’ve talked to people who know him well, and they say he doesn’t have a drinking problem,” Trump responded.
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