Trump Gave Pete Hegseth ‘Special Permission’ For Media Campaign to Try and Salvage Embattled Nomination: Sources

Pete Hegseth embarked on a crisis management media tour this week in a desperate effort to salvage his nomination for Secretary of Defense in light of a series of damaging allegations about his conduct throughout his career as a U.S. soldier, veterans advocate, and Fox News host.

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon appeared for a soft-ball interview with Megyn Kelly – a former colleague at Fox who has emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal boosters. He’s speaking out on X, formerly Twitter, and in the pages of the Wall Street Journal.

In the Kelly interview, Hegseth defended himself against an allegation he raped a woman at a Republican conference in 2017, as well as reports that he has a drinking problem, mismanaged funds at two veterans groups he ran, and his long history of cheating on his wives.

Hegseth’s mother Penelope also spoke out in defense of her son in an appearance on “Fox and Friends,” where she addressed an email she sent to him, which was published by the New York Times, and in which she castigated him for mistreating his second wife.

The media campaign is a sign of how desperately Hegseth is fighting to remain Trump’s nominee to run the Defense Department, amid reports the incoming president is considering dumping him for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Trump’s other nominees have been instructed by the transition team to refrain from doing any press and to cancel speaking engagements prior to their Senate confirmation hearings, a Trump insider who served on his campaign told Mediaite.

Hegseth was given “special permission” from Trump and his transition team to do press in order to “repair his public image,” the insider said.

The public blitz is a “signal the transition wants Hegseth to make his case stronger,” the source added. “Pete needs better storylines.” 

Ultimately, the fate of Hegseth’s survival will come down to the senators he needs to confirm him, some of whom have publicly said he faces an uphill battle.

“If enough senators say no Pete is dead,” the insider noted.

Hegseth has spent the week meeting with senators on Capitol Hill facing questions behind closed doors about the allegations against him.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), herself a combat veteran, said on Fox News Thursday morning that after meeting with Hegseth she is unconvinced. She called for a “thorough vetting process” for all nominees.

Lindsey Graham, said earlier this week the allegations against Hegseth are “very concerning” and indicated a confirmation will be difficult.  On Thursday, he appeared to hedge somewhat in a post on X, writing, “I’m not going to make any decision regarding Pete Hegseth’s nomination based on anonymous sources.”

The media blitz may have helped Hegseth, at least in the short-time. A source close to the transition team said “they are keeping Pete in for now.”

The team believes Hegseth “gained some traction” with his media tour, the source said, and at this time he is not being pushed out.

“For now they are digging their heels in,” the source said. “The message on the Hill is they will hear him out which indicates they will let it go to hearings.”  

That vote of confidence comes with a strong caveat: if any further damaging information comes to light, Hegseth is likely cooked. The Trump insider added that if Hegseth’s 2017 rape accuser comes forward it would be “hard to come back from” and would give wary senators cover to oppose his nomination.

Mediaite reported last month that the woman, currently known only as “Jane Doe,” would be willing to testify if asked.