The controversial appointment of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense by US President-elect Donald Trump is being called into question, including within the Republican camp, the American press reported on Wednesday, which mentioned the name of Florida Governor and former rival Ron DeSantis .
Trump may be forced to reconsider his choice for Mr. Hegseth, a former soldier turned Fox News anchor, less than two months before the inauguration.
Aged 44, Mr. Hegseth has seen a number of cases resurface, including accusations of alcohol abuse and sexual assault dating from 2017. These scandals did not give rise to legal proceedings but weigh heavily , raising reservations about the relevance of Trump’s choice as Republican support in Congress wanes.
According to NBC News, up to six Senate Republicans, including Lindsey Graham, one of Mr. Trump’s staunchest allies on Capitol Hill, have expressed reservations about Mr. Hegseth. The upper house will have to approve his nomination.
Doubts about Mr Hegseth grew with the emergence of an old email in which his own mother called him an “abuser of women”.
“I think some of these articles are very disturbing,” Mr. Graham told CBS News, noting: Hegseth “obviously has an opportunity to defend himself, but some of these things are going to be difficult” (to defend).
Republicans have 53 seats in the new Senate majority, meaning that for confirmation votes Mr. Trump can only afford to lose the support of three Republican senators, assuming all Democrats vote against him.
The press mentioned the name of Mr. DeSantis to replace him, a surprising choice as the two men competed for the Republican nomination. Ron DeSantis, however, supported Mr. Trump after withdrawing from the race in early 2024.
The Department of Defense — a key position within the world’s leading power — employs nearly three million military and civilian personnel, and defense spending — including veteran care — exceeded $1 trillion in 2023 .
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