Trump allies doubt Hegseth can secure Defense secretary nomination

Donald Trump praised Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee for Defense secretary, in a social media post Friday, but some of the president-elect's allies are doubtful Hegseth can make it through the confirmation process.

Hegseth doesn't appear to have the votes in the Senate to get confirmed and his nomination is in trouble, according to two sources close to Trump.

"I believe the votes are not there for Pete," said a Trump adviser who asked not to be identified. "They're not going to be there. I think Trump will let Pete fight and come to that conclusion on his own."

The second source said Hegseth's nomination appears to be doomed unless Trump "goes into full push."

More: Pete Hegseth controversy explained: What to know amid backlash to Trump's Defense pick

Trump lauded Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, on social media Friday, writing that he "is doing very well."

"His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe," Trump added.

Trump seems committed to Hegseth for now, said a third source close to the president-elect.

"That is my current sense," said the source.

Hegseth's nomination has been teetering, though, amid a series of revelations about his personal life.

He was accused of sexual assault, which he denies and for which he has never faced charges. And a whistleblower report first detailed by The New Yorker alleged he was forced out of leadership roles with two nonprofit veterans groups - Concerned Vets for America and Vets for Freedom - for personal misconduct, mismanagement of funds and intoxication on the job.

More: Pete Hegseth vows he won't drink 'a drop of alcohol' if confirmed as defense secretary

There also have been reports about excessive drinking by Hegseth during his stint at Fox News. The New York Times published an email sent to Hegseth by his mother in which she wrote “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years)."

Penelope Hegseth went on television this week to defend him and said she regrets the email.

"Pete Hegseth is going to get his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, not a sham hearing before the American media. We believe that Pete Hegseth is the right guy to lead the Department of Defense," Vice President-elect JD Vance told reporters Friday in North Carolina. "That’s why President Trump nominated him. We’re not abandoning this nomination.”

Mark Lucas, who succeeded Pete Hegseth as executive director of Concerned Vets for America, dismissed the concerns about him as political. He said he didn't have any issues with Hegseth and is volunteering to testify before a Senate panel to support his confirmation Lucas also criticized people attacking Hegseth for doing so behind the cloak of anonymity.

More: Alcohol, antipathy cloud Pete Hegseth sex assault allegations with conflicting accounts

"They're going to run the same playbook against Pete Hegseth that they did with Brett Kavanaugh," he told USA TODAY, referring to the Supreme Court justice who was accused sexual assault as a teenager during his 2018 confirmation. "If people want to come forward, they can. They can say whatever they want under oath. But it's going to be investigated."

Hegseth may not benefit from the same "choir boy" treatment as Kavanaugh, said Mike Davis, who piloted Kavanaugh's contentious hearings as a Senate Judiciary Committee chief counsel.

"Hegseth admits he was certainly not a choir boy. The Kavanaugh claims were ridiculous." Davis told USA TODAY. "Everyone knows Hegseth was a playboy. That doesn't mean he was a rapist. And the accusations, while serious, may not withstand public scrutiny after her public testimony."

Davis said his group, the Article III Project, is mobilizing a phone, email and social media blitz to support Kash Patel and Hegseth.

Among the critical senators he must win over is Republican Joni Ernst, of Iowa, who earlier this week balked at Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary. She has faced a voluble backlash from Trump's base as a result, including calls online for a primary challenge to criticism from fellow Iowa Republicans.

Ernst said Friday she will continue to have "constructive conversations" with Hegseth as nomination process continues.

"We plan to meet again next week," Ernst said in a post on X. "At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing."

Hegseth's struggles have Trump considering a backup. He has been weighing replacing Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran against him in the GOP presidential primary.

DeSantis, a Navy veteran, will join Trump at the Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14, according to Fox News.

Hegseth said during his visit to the Capitol this week to meet with senators that he spoke with Trump and the president-elect is standing behind him.

"He said: 'Keep going, keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way,'" Hegseth said of his conversation with Trump. "Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I'm here for the war fighters."

Contribution: Phillip M. Bailey

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Hegseth unlikely to be confirmed by Senate, Trump allies say