Donald Trump's allies don't trust the motivations of the leading opponents to Pete Hegseth's nomination for defense secretary.
The president-elect's choice to lead the Pentagon has been meeting with senators this week to reassure them about reports of his alleged sexual assault, excessive drinking, sexual harassment and questionable financial management, but Trump aides working on his nomination have assured the transition team they have not yet counted three GOP senators opposed to his confirmation, two sources told The Guardian.
"While Trump himself has not expended any real political capital by calling holdouts on Hegseth’s behalf," wrote correspondent Hugo Lowell, "the Trump aides working on his nomination have, both with senators and inside Trumpworld to ensure he has the president-elect’s backing."
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Hegseth's team includes aides close to vice president-elect J.D. Vance and Donald Trump Jr., who have influence with both GOP senators and the president-elect's inner circle, but one holdout has vexed insiders at Mar-a-Lago.
"The continued resistance from [Iowa Sen. Joni] Ernst sparked complaints from Trump’s team at Mar-a-Lago, where the transition operation is headquartered, that Ernst was content to sink Hegseth’s nomination because she was interested in the job herself," Lowell reported. "Ernst had briefly been in the running for the defense secretary position until she was passed over when Trump instead gravitated to Hegseth, partly because of what he regarded as his telegenic qualities and conversations with him on the campaign trail."
The Iowa Republican has reportedly spoken often with Trump and questioned his choice of the former Fox News host, which has led to suspicions about her intentions, but Ernst's team flatly denied those accusations.
“She is not seeking the position, full stop," a spokesperson for Ernst said in a statement.
Trump finally posted his support for his embattled nominee Friday morning on Truth Social, saying he's a "winner" who "leads with charisma and skill," but privately he's been telling confidants that Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), whom he chose as national security adviser, probably would have faced an easier path to confirmation as Pentagon chief.
"But Trump has also said he wants to keep Waltz in the West Wing and his top replacement pick would be Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor and his 2024 Republican primary rival," Lowell wrote, citing to two people with knowledge of the discussions.
