Hegseth's Prospects Improve, Temporarily at Least
The nominee for Defense Secretary is in a favorable position due to well-timed circumstances.
TroibNews 
Following a tumultuous week marked by allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct, Donald Trump's aides and supporters assert that Pete Hegseth has improved his political standing compared to 48 hours prior, when news emerged that the president-elect was considering a backup plan involving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should Hegseth withdraw.
However, this does not imply that Hegseth's challenges have subsided. Several Republican senators have expressed that the allegations against him are serious and warrant thorough examination. Hegseth has not yet engaged with crucial GOP senators, including Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine, leading to some indicating they remain hesitant to endorse him. Nevertheless, Trump’s advisors are hopeful, noting that none have outright declined to support Hegseth, suggesting favorable timing might play a role in his favor.
On Thursday night, Trump attended the Fox News Patriot Awards in New York, where he heard his colleagues commend Hegseth. Earlier that day, Trump was pleased with Hegseth’s commitment to advocate for his nomination in the Senate.
By Friday morning, Trump publicly praised Hegseth on Truth Social, stating, "Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep."
Supporting Trump’s sentiment, vice presidential nominee JD Vance remarked on X, “Led by President Trump, we're fighting for Pete Hegseth…We've got his back.”
Trump is also set to record an interview with Kristen Welker for NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Friday afternoon before departing for Paris to attend the reopening of Notre Dame. An ally of Trump indicated that during the interview, he would likely reiterate support for Hegseth, which could yield a video segment that may help shield him from skeptics, at least temporarily.
In the meantime, Hegseth has been making efforts to bolster his image in the media. He was notably the only nominee for Senate confirmation to participate in an interview this week, suggesting a last-minute push to regain favor and public support. Additionally, his mother made an appearance on "Fox & Friends" as a character witness, defending him after a 2018 email surfaced in The New York Times in which she criticized him as an “abuser of women.” She attested that he is now a “new man.”
Trump's allies continue to monitor the positions of key senators, particularly female Republicans. While some, including Sen. Katie Britt, have expressed their support for Hegseth, others like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito have yet to declare their stance.
Among the most openly skeptical voices regarding Hegseth has been Sen. Joni Ernst. Earlier this week, she conveyed to Trump that she believes Hegseth could face challenges during confirmation, as per two individuals briefed on their conversation. This skepticism has prompted intense pressure from conservative factions, with some threatening to primary her when she runs for reelection in 2026. There are also whispers suggesting that she might seek to undermine Hegseth in hopes of securing the Defense Secretary position herself, which she has denied.
Notably, on Friday morning, the Republican National Committee disseminated an op-ed by Trump associate Brenna Bird, Iowa’s attorney general, which some interpreted as a thinly veiled warning of potential primary challenges.
“In recent days, it’s become clear that D.C. politicians think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years," Bird wrote.
In response, Ernst told RealClearPolitics that she has no interest in the Defense role and does not "have a campaign against Pete.”
"I just want to make sure the process is able to play out and that we’re thoroughly vetting him. I do believe that Pete deserves to have a hearing. All the rumblings out there are absolutely false. My role as a senator is to make sure that we are putting to bed any rumors, any anonymous whatever,” she stated.
One Trump advisor predicted that if Hegseth advances to a committee hearing, he will likely prevail. However, another advisor pointed out that the recent withdrawals of nominees—such as Matt Gaetz and the DEA nominee—could trigger a new wave of negative public relations for Trump's Cabinet. “The grassroots isn’t going to tolerate another scalp,” a Trump-aligned operative remarked.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
However, this does not imply that Hegseth's challenges have subsided. Several Republican senators have expressed that the allegations against him are serious and warrant thorough examination. Hegseth has not yet engaged with crucial GOP senators, including Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine, leading to some indicating they remain hesitant to endorse him. Nevertheless, Trump’s advisors are hopeful, noting that none have outright declined to support Hegseth, suggesting favorable timing might play a role in his favor.
On Thursday night, Trump attended the Fox News Patriot Awards in New York, where he heard his colleagues commend Hegseth. Earlier that day, Trump was pleased with Hegseth’s commitment to advocate for his nomination in the Senate.
By Friday morning, Trump publicly praised Hegseth on Truth Social, stating, "Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep."
Supporting Trump’s sentiment, vice presidential nominee JD Vance remarked on X, “Led by President Trump, we're fighting for Pete Hegseth…We've got his back.”
Trump is also set to record an interview with Kristen Welker for NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Friday afternoon before departing for Paris to attend the reopening of Notre Dame. An ally of Trump indicated that during the interview, he would likely reiterate support for Hegseth, which could yield a video segment that may help shield him from skeptics, at least temporarily.
In the meantime, Hegseth has been making efforts to bolster his image in the media. He was notably the only nominee for Senate confirmation to participate in an interview this week, suggesting a last-minute push to regain favor and public support. Additionally, his mother made an appearance on "Fox & Friends" as a character witness, defending him after a 2018 email surfaced in The New York Times in which she criticized him as an “abuser of women.” She attested that he is now a “new man.”
Trump's allies continue to monitor the positions of key senators, particularly female Republicans. While some, including Sen. Katie Britt, have expressed their support for Hegseth, others like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito have yet to declare their stance.
Among the most openly skeptical voices regarding Hegseth has been Sen. Joni Ernst. Earlier this week, she conveyed to Trump that she believes Hegseth could face challenges during confirmation, as per two individuals briefed on their conversation. This skepticism has prompted intense pressure from conservative factions, with some threatening to primary her when she runs for reelection in 2026. There are also whispers suggesting that she might seek to undermine Hegseth in hopes of securing the Defense Secretary position herself, which she has denied.
Notably, on Friday morning, the Republican National Committee disseminated an op-ed by Trump associate Brenna Bird, Iowa’s attorney general, which some interpreted as a thinly veiled warning of potential primary challenges.
“In recent days, it’s become clear that D.C. politicians think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years," Bird wrote.
In response, Ernst told RealClearPolitics that she has no interest in the Defense role and does not "have a campaign against Pete.”
"I just want to make sure the process is able to play out and that we’re thoroughly vetting him. I do believe that Pete deserves to have a hearing. All the rumblings out there are absolutely false. My role as a senator is to make sure that we are putting to bed any rumors, any anonymous whatever,” she stated.
One Trump advisor predicted that if Hegseth advances to a committee hearing, he will likely prevail. However, another advisor pointed out that the recent withdrawals of nominees—such as Matt Gaetz and the DEA nominee—could trigger a new wave of negative public relations for Trump's Cabinet. “The grassroots isn’t going to tolerate another scalp,” a Trump-aligned operative remarked.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
