Trump Says Pete Hegseth ‘Support Is Strong and Deep’ Amid Senate Fight

‘Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep,’ Trump said in a Friday statement.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth (C), leaves a meeting with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) (L) on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 2, 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth, whom he tapped to become secretary of defense, amid reports and allegations against the Fox News host.

This week, several Republican senators indicated that Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon could be in trouble, coming amid reports that cite anonymous sources about his time at Fox News and a 2017 police report that said a woman accused him of assault. No charges were brought, and Hegseth has denied those allegations.