Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Saturday mentioned he was “optimistic” in regards to the path ahead for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s controversial choose to steer the Pentagon.
“I’m optimistic about it. I’ve talked to a number of senators personally on the Hill just over the last couple of days and it seems like the momentum’s moving the right way,” Johnson mentioned in an interview on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” including, “We’ve all made mistakes in our lives, but we believe in redemption.”
“What Pete brings to the table is a love for the military, a great education background, a great experience set, I think he’s well-suited for the job,” he informed Hegseth’s former Fox Information colleagues. “And he will shake up the status quo, which is why this pick is so important.”
Johnson’s reward comes a day after Trump doubled down on his nomination of Hegseth amid questions on whether or not allegations of sexual misconduct and extreme ingesting may affect his probability of being confirmed by the Senate. The Speaker, whereas a strong ally of the president-elect, doesn’t have a vote within the matter.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump posted on Reality Social, calling the previous “Fox & Friends” host a “great student” with a “military state of mind.”
Whereas there was an uptick in help over current days, Hegseth remains to be dealing with an uphill battle. Sources signaled to The Hill earlier this week that his probabilities might be blocked by a bunch of probably “hard no’s” amongst Senate Republicans.
These reservations have additionally been straight communicated with Trump’s transition workforce, which has reportedly been mulling different choices — together with his former main rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Hegseth has vowed to proceed preventing for the place, regardless of the scrutiny. In a message on-line earlier this week, he claimed he was topic to a smear marketing campaign from Democrats.
“I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers,” he wrote on social platform X. “The left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of @realDonaldTrump — and me.”
“In order that they smear w/ pretend, nameless sources & BS tales. They don’t need reality. Our warriors by no means again down, & neither will I,” Hegseth added.
The Military veteran’s lawyer has additionally threatened an extortion lawsuit in opposition to his shopper’s sexual assault accuser if Hegseth just isn’t confirmed as secretary of Protection.
