President Donald Trump expressed his support for defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during a White House briefing on Friday. Trump voiced his surprise at Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting against advancing Hegseth's nomination to the Senate floor.
Trump described Hegseth as a 'good man' and expressed his hope that he would be confirmed. The President's comments came in the midst of allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement of a veterans' charity against Hegseth, all of which he has denied.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Hegseth disclosed that he had paid $50,000 as part of a confidentiality agreement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault. In response to questioning from Senator Elizabeth Warren, Hegseth dismissed the allegation as a 'nuisance claim.'
The nomination faced opposition from both Democratic and Republican senators, with Collins and Murkowski joining the dissent. The confirmation vote for Hegseth is scheduled for tonight, with uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
Despite the controversy surrounding Hegseth's nomination, President Trump remains steadfast in his support for the defense secretary pick, emphasizing his belief in Hegseth's character and qualifications for the role.
