Pete Hegseth Says Trump Told Him ‘Keep Fighting’ Amid Allegations

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense signaled on Wednesday that he has no plans to withdraw from consideration, despite escalating allegations of personal and sexual misconduct.

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor and Army officer with extensive combat experience, spoke briefly during a hallway interview at the U.S. Capitol. He revealed that he had discussed the situation with Trump earlier in the day and received encouragement to “keep fighting.”

“I spoke to the President-elect this morning. He said keep going, keep fighting… Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter,” Hegseth told a reporter.

When asked directly whether he was considering withdrawing his nomination, Hegseth stated that his focus remained on meeting with senators, emphasizing that his efforts to gain support would continue.

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Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense was announced shortly after Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

“I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense. Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump said in a statement.

He continued, “Pete is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a graduate degree from Harvard University. He is an Army Combat Veteran who served tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his battlefield actions, he received two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, using that platform to advocate for our Military and Veterans. His recent book, The War on Warriors, spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at NUMBER ONE.”

Trump concluded by praising Hegseth’s leadership and commitment to military excellence. “The book reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence. Pete has also led two Veterans Advocacy organizations, tirelessly fighting for our Warriors and Veterans. Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”

However, Hegseth has recently faced a wave of allegations, including claims of sexual misconduct and concerns over excessive drinking during his tenure as the leader of a veterans’ advocacy group.

According to an NBC News report, “Hegseth… drank in ways that concerned his colleagues at Fox News, according to 10 current and former Fox employees who spoke with NBC News.”

The report continued, “Two of those people said that on more than a dozen occasions during Hegseth’s time as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, which began in 2017, they smelled alcohol on him before he went on air. Those same two people, plus another, said that during his time there, he appeared on television after they’d heard him talk about being hungover while getting ready or on set.”

Despite these allegations, several of Hegseth’s former and current colleagues at Fox News have strongly disputed the claims, defending his character and professionalism.