Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged not to drink if confirmed for the Pentagon’s top job, following a flood of negative stories highlighting his consumption.
“This is the biggest commitment of my life, and there won’t be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I’m doing it,” Hegseth said Wednesday on The Megyn Kelly Show.
His pledge comes as lawmakers are skeptical of his qualifications to lead the Pentagon — the nation’s largest employer, with more than 2 million under its purview and a budget of $800 billion.
Hegeth’s confirmation has become more difficult as a steady stream of negative reports have emerged highlighting his alleged binge drinking and questionable behavior toward women.
Senators have even begun offering possible replacements to DailyMail.com, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Joni Ernst, a former combat veteran.
One such report, published by the New York Times, on Wednesday revealed emails from his mother, Penelope Hegseth, in which she calls her own son a habitual cheater and abuser of women, according to an email she sent him after his second divorce in 2018 .
She later said the email was sent out of anger and frustration, and she claims to have written a follow-up shortly after apologizing.
Hegseth, 44, has also been accused of assault and getting so drunk on the job that he was forced out of his leadership role for a veterans group.
Another recent one NBC news report claims that 10 current and former Fox News employees said they were concerned about his drinking and that they could smell alcohol on him “as early as last month.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is accompanied by his wife Jennifer as they walk through the basement of the Capitol. He met with several senators on Wednesday about his upcoming nomination
Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa has also been reported as a possible nominee for Secretary of Defense if Hegseth fails to gather enough support
A report from the Wall Street Journal this week revealed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also being seriously considered
While many of the reports cite anonymous sources, something Republicans are quick to point out, they have added additional claims to the pile of material the Senate must go through before confirming Hegseth.
Hegseth delved further into his drinking habits on the podcast of Megyn Kelly, who is also a former Fox host.
‘What do boys often do when they come back from the war? Have a few beers. How do you deal with the demons you see on the battlefield? Sometimes it’s with a bottle,” he said.
‘Unfortunately, tragically, for too many boys it’s the bottle and then it’s depression and then, even worse, suicide.’
“I found my purposeful chapters that got me out of there,” he said.
“I’m a very different person than I was 10 years ago,” Hegseth insisted, pointing to his wife Jennifer and his Christian faith.
Trump apparently supports his choice and Hegseth said he recently spoke with him.
‘He supports me. We talked,” Hegseth said of his conversation with Trump. “He said: you go meet those senators and I will support you.”
The father of seven also recalled to Kelly how Trump said, “Pete, I have your back. It’s a fight, they’re coming after you. Go after it.’
But as the headwinds Hegseth faces appear to be the strongest, some senators are talking about other possible candidates for the top Pentagon position.
Reports indicate that Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, could be on the short list to replace Hegseth if his nomination fails.
Ernst touts herself on her website as the first female combat veteran in the Senate and has worked to reduce sexual violence in the US military.
Hegseth, on the other hand, has said that women do not belong in combat.
Joni Ernst served in the military before becoming an Iowa senator
Ernst in 2003, before her deployment abroad. She was the commander of the 1168th Transportation Combat Support Company, based in Red Oak, Iowa
After Ernst and Hegseth met Wednesday, the Iowan circulated a cryptic message summarizing their conversation.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s service to our country, something we both share,” she wrote on X. “Today, as part of the confirmation process, we had a candid and thorough conversation.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Wednesday that Ernst is “obviously” qualified to become defense secretary if Trump chooses to nominate her. Adding “her own service in uniform” makes her eligible for the post.
However, the Missourian was quick to admit that his comments about Ernst’s qualifications were not an endorsement.
“You’re not going to trick me into giving advice to the president,” he said, smiling.
He also noted that his scheduled meeting with Hegseth on Thursday was canceled by the nominee’s team.
He was given no explanation for the sudden cancellation.
Although Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who attended Wednesday’s meetings with Hegseth, said the cancellation was likely due to it being “fly out day” in the Senate – when lawmakers flee home.
When asked whether Ernst or Hegseth was better suited for the post, Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma demurred.
“I’ll let the president pick his own team,” Lankford responded, without saying whether his Iowa counterpart would be a better choice than Hegseth.
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s team is also considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the top Pentagon job.
Sources familiar with Trump and DeSantis’ thinking revealed that the president-elect spoke to the governor about the job this week.
If DeSantis is offered the job, he would take it, the outlet reports.
DeSantis served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2010
Hegseth and wife Jennifer Rauchet walk hand in hand on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary met with senators ahead of next year’s confirmation process
Meanwhile, many in the Senate are awaiting their own meetings with Hegseth to see if he can handle the full confirmation process.
The former Fox News host met early Wednesday morning with Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who will serve the next Congress in the influential role of chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, charged with overseeing his nomination .
Their session was just one of several planned for this week and next as Hegseth makes his rounds with the 53 Republicans whose support he is seeking. He can only afford to lose three Republican votes.
Wicker indicated the meeting went well, although he did not reveal the details of their conversation.
“I don’t see any obstacles that can’t be overcome,” Wicker said of Hegseth’s chances of being confirmed. He also added that the former TV presenter should stay in the fight.
However, Wicker did say that Hegseth would promise to stop drinking if confirmed, which the senator said was “a good idea.”
The allegations about Hegseth drinking women seemed to be of particular interest among female lawmakers.
“I would like to hear from him about many of the allegations that you have all made,” Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said of Hegseth.
She is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate and has a reputation as a moderate, meaning the former Fox News host could face an uphill battle that could sway her.
“I am scheduled to meet with Pete Hegseth next week to investigate his qualifications, his vision for the department and these new allegations against him,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.
