Trump is racking up victories left and right. It’s all he seems to do nowadays.
And the incoming Donald Trump admin just secured a major win before even entering the Oval Office.
A group of Republican senators responsible for confirming Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth expressed their confidence in him following a meeting at the Capitol on Monday. The meeting, attended by Hegseth and his wife, included notable GOP lawmakers such as Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Despite renewed media scrutiny over decade-old allegations, the senators voiced their firm support for Hegseth, citing his military background and leadership qualities. If Republicans in Congress can continue to rally around Hegseth and Donald Trump’s other nominees for his administration, it would be a huge victory for the president-elect and his team.
Blackburn shared her endorsement of Hegseth on X, writing: “Pete Hegseth is an outstanding choice for Secretary of Defense. I am confident he will bolster our military and make an excellent addition to the Trump administration.”
Cruz also praised Hegseth after the meeting, stating: “Great meeting with President-Elect Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee @PeteHegseth. Pete has a decorated military career and a stellar academic background. He is laser-focused on ending the wokeness that has overtaken the Armed Forces. Under his leadership, the DOD will return to making America and our allies safer around the globe.”
Tuberville offered his own perspective, telling reporters, “We had a good meeting. I’ve known Pete for a while. He’s going to be a great secretary of defense. He understands, as I tell him, we don’t need a general officer, admiral or a person of high command, we need a drill sergeant in the military.”
According to Axios, Scott emphasized Hegseth’s dedication to creating a “lethal military that scares the crap out of our enemies.” Cruz predicted that “A year from now, military recruitment numbers will have skyrocketed under Secretary Hegseth,” while also warning that Democrats are likely to turn the confirmation process into a political spectacle.
Lummis highlighted the need to restore trust in the military, referencing the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We were embarrassed by our departure from Afghanistan, and we want to restore American confidence in our military,” she said.
Media Allegations Resurface
The senators’ endorsements followed a recent New Yorker article revisiting claims from Hegseth’s time at Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a veterans advocacy group he led after returning from combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The piece accused Hegseth of heavy drinking and misconduct during his tenure—a narrative his defenders have vehemently denied.
Sean Parnell, a former CVA colleague, dismissed the allegations as “complete fabrications.” Another former CVA leader echoed this sentiment, saying, “These were false allegations made by a group of disgruntled employees fired by Pete.”
Both leaders confirmed that Hegseth’s departure from CVA was voluntary and unrelated to any alleged misconduct. Parnell explained that Hegseth left due to differences in foreign policy views with the organization’s funders, particularly regarding Trump’s vision for national security.
The New Yorker article also claimed Hegseth was jobless after leaving CVA, which Parnell refuted. “He was a Fox News contributor,” Parnell said, noting that Hegseth was also in talks with ABC and had secured a book deal.
Defending Hegseth’s Record
Hegseth, a recipient of two Bronze Stars and a combat infantry badge, has faced scrutiny for his outspoken views on U.S. foreign policy. A former colleague described his approach as rooted in a deep dissatisfaction with post-9/11 military engagements.
“Pete believes that the wars we were involved in were a disaster for us, for our armed forces, and for the people of those countries,” the colleague said.
Despite the controversies, Republican senators appear united in their support for Hegseth. Their confidence signals a strong likelihood of confirmation, even as critics attempt to shape the narrative ahead of his hearing.
This of course is positive news for Donald Trump who is seeking to have all his nominees confirmed as he heads into the Oval Office.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
