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President Donald Trump has doubled down on his support of Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense following rumors that a new nominee could be named.
Trump shared the statement on Truth Social Friday morning following a week of media attacks against Hegseth.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind,” Trump wrote.
“He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” he added.
Hegseth held meetings on Capitol Hill on Thursday, telling reporters that he spoke with Trump who restated his support for him.
“I spoke to Trump this morning, just a few minutes ago. He supports us fully,” Hegseth told reporters.
The reaffirmation of Hegseth follows rumors that Trump could choose a new nominee, including talk of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as an option.
“Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect’s team, which considers the next 48 hours to be crucial to his fate,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
“DeSantis was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates that transition officials presented to the president. Trump ultimately went with Hegseth. But as Hegseth’s nomination has faltered, that list has been revived and DeSantis is again among the choices Trump is considering,” it added.
The Trump campaign previously released a statement noting strong House support for Hegseth, though some concerns have arisen over past accusations against him.
“Pete Hegseth is a strong nominee to lead the Department of Defense. We had an excellent discussion about the need for America’s military to remain the best in the world,” Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso wrote.
“That means taking care of our service members, equipping them with the latest technology, and focusing on making our military the most lethal force on the planet. Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power — not the current administration’s woke political agenda,” he added.