Trump backs Pete Hegseth for Pentagon chief, predicts Senate approval

US President-elect Donald Trump has offered a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over inappropriate behaviour.

"Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site on Friday. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added, "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!"

Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview recorded on Friday that he believes Hegseth will be confirmed and that he still has confidence in him.

"Pete is doing well now," the president-elect said in an excerpt of the interview set to air Sunday. "I mean, people were a little bit concerned. He's a young guy with a tremendous track record."

He said senators have called him to tell him that Hegseth is fantastic. Trump also cast doubt on reports of alcohol misuse by Hegseth, saying he has spoken to people who know him well and has been assured Hegseth doesn't have a drinking problem.

Hegseth, a former Fox News Host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Pentagon.

The pitched nomination battle over Hegseth is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon but also at a key moment for a "Make America Great Again" movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the “woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Trump's allies are forcefully rallying around the embattled Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm is promising to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to.

"We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina.

The effort has become a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees.

Two of Trump's other choices have stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former congressman Matt Gaetz, his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump’s first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, “Like you, we will never back down.”

Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops have also come under intensifying scrutiny.

Hegseth's nomination has been met with significant criticism following reports of troubling incidents in his past. Among the allegations are a 2015 episode where he reportedly shouted anti-Muslim slurs while drunk, along with accusations of sexual misconduct in 2017.

Potential replacements

Still, Trump's transition team has been looking at potential replacements if Hegseth's nomination cannot move forward, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis plans to attend the Army-Navy football game with Trump on Dec. 14, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor’s plans.

DeSantis and Trump had spoken about the defense secretary post when they saw each other Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive.

At the same time, DeSantis is also poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state. Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit.

Despite a weeklong push of private Capitol Hill meetings, Hegseth is facing resistance from senators as reports have emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies.

Senator Mike Rounds, said after meeting with Hegseth that he wanted to see how he does in a hearing.