Sources claim that Senate Republicans are set to unanimously support Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Trump’s Secretary of Defense, according to the New York Post.
Hegseth was on Capitol Hill Thursday whipping up support as he vowed to “never back down” amid allegations of misconduct and smears from the leftist media.
As The Gateway Pundit reported earlier, Hegseth got numerous boosts Wednesday morning when his mother condemned the media’s hit pieces about her past relationship with her son, and J.D. Vance and many current and former Fox associates showed him massive support vouching for his character.
This morning, Hegseth told a reporter that he spoke with President Trump, and “he said keep going, keep fighting, I’m behind you all the way.” Hegseth further confirmed that he’s “in this all the way,” and is not withdrawing his name.
“Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I’m here for the warfighters. This is a personal passion for me,” he said.
WATCH:
In a press conference later this afternoon, Hegseth outlined President Trump’s mandate for him as Defense Secretary and assured the press that he’s hearing the same message in his meetings with Senators.
Hegseth: It’s a wonderful process to go through and meet with senators and talk to them, especially members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, whose passion is the Defense Department and our warfighters, to hear what they want to do to make sure that department is properly oriented for the threats of the world, and make sure that we’re putting the warfighters first.
That’s what Donald Trump asked me to do. Your job is to bring a war-fighting ethos back to the Pentagon. Your job is to make sure that it’s lethality, lethality, lethality. Everything else is gone. Everything else that distracts from that shouldn’t be happening. That’s the message I’m hearing from senators in that advise and consent process, and it’s been a wonderful process.
New York Post reports,
“There are zero ‘nos’ right now,” one GOP source familiar with the matter said, ripping smears against the former Army combat infantryman in the press as “BS.”
At least six Republicans have privately expressed reservations about President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, NBC News reported Tuesday, as claims of binge drinking, sexual impropriety and financial mismanagement during his tenure as leader of a veterans advocacy group pile up.
“The swamp is just scared of the DOD shakeup that’s coming,” the aide said. “Hegseth should have a hearing, like any other nominee, where he can answer any outstanding questions.”
Only four Republicans would have to vote against him to tank the confirmation.
Though the source says there are no Senators opposed to Hegseth, it is unclear whether some, including RINO John Cornyn (R-TX), are entirely on board.
Cornyn on Wednesday refused to answer whether he thinks Hegseth is “the right man for the job,” telling reporters, “I’m gonna let the process work itself out.” He continued, “I’ve known Pete for a number of years, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him since he was nominated, but we’ll let the process work itself out.”
John Cornyn is up for reelection in 2026 and will likely face challenges if he doesn’t vote to confirm all of Trump’s nominees.
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The Gateway Pundit will continue to provide updates on the confirmation of Trump’s appointees.
The post JUST IN: “ZERO” Senate Republicans Oppose Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Sources Say – But RINO John Cornyn Walks Away From Reporters and Refuses to Say Whether He’s Supporting Hegseth appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.