President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, engaged in a series of meetings with Republican senators on Capitol Hill to garner support for his confirmation. Hegseth, a military veteran, met with senators including Rick Scott, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mike Rounds, Ron Johnson, Tom Cotton, and Sen.-elect Jim Banks on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Hegseth also met with GOP senators such as Roger Wicker and John Thune. Despite facing criticism and allegations, Hegseth expressed that Trump fully supports him.
Senator Scott praised Hegseth's military background and leadership qualities, emphasizing his commitment to supporting warfighters within the Department of Defense. Scott vowed to do everything in his power to ensure Hegseth's confirmation.
Senator-elect Banks echoed Scott's sentiments, highlighting Hegseth's determination to confront challenges posed by countries like China, Russia, and Iran to strengthen America's position.
During his meetings, Hegseth refrained from commenting on specific allegations against him, emphasizing the private nature of his discussions with senators like Joni Ernst.
Reflecting on the process, Hegseth expressed gratitude for the wealth of knowledge and advice offered by Senate members, particularly those on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He acknowledged the importance of earning their support as the nominee for secretary of defense.
Notably, Hegseth's meetings coincided with visits to Capitol Hill by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who were discussing their new roles in Trump's Department of Government Efficiency with Senator Thune.
