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Pete Hegseth's Defense Secretary Nomination Faces Growing Republican Opposition

Allegations of misconduct and concerns over qualifications jeopardize Hegseth's confirmation as Trump considers alternatives.

  • President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is struggling to secure Senate Republican support due to allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse.
  • Hegseth has denied the allegations, describing them as a 'manufactured media takedown,' and pledged to abstain from alcohol if confirmed, but skepticism among senators persists.
  • Key Republican senators, including Joni Ernst, have withheld support, citing the need for thorough vetting of allegations, particularly given Ernst's advocacy against sexual assault in the military.
  • Trump's allies are lobbying to salvage Hegseth's nomination, but reports suggest Trump is privately considering alternative candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Ernst herself.
  • Hegseth's confirmation would require near-unanimous Republican support in the Senate, but internal GOP estimates suggest as many as eight Republican senators may oppose his nomination.
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