First on Fox – More than 30 Republican House members who are military veterans express “strong support” for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump Candidate for the position of Minister of Defense.
In a letter to Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the next Senate Majority Leader, and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, the current Majority Leader, Representatives of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives “I call on the Senate to respect its constitutional duty to advise and consent by conducting a fair and thorough confirmation process.”
The letter, which was first shared with Fox News on Wednesday, was written by Rep. August Pfluger of Texas. He urges senators to evaluate Hegseth's nomination “solely on his objective merits — his distinguished military service, his academic credentials, and his bold vision to revitalize our national defense.”
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Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, gives a thumbs up as he walks with his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, left, to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Hegseth, an Army National Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who until last month was a longtime Fox News host, has been the focus of a slew of reports that highlighted a series of allegations of drinking and sexual misconduct, as well as a report alleging he abused Managing a non-profit veterans organization he once led.
Trump defense minister The candidate denied allegations of mistreatment of women but reached a financial settlement with one of the accused in the 2017 incident to avoid a lawsuit. He has pledged that he will not drink “a drop of alcohol” if he is appointed Minister of Defense.
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While Hegseth's confirmation is still far from a sure bet, Trump's very public declaration of support late last week, and behind-the-scenes efforts by Vice President-elect Senator J.D. Vance To persuade his GOP Senate colleagues to support the nominee, Hegseth's determination appears to have revived a nomination that appeared to be faltering last week.
Rep. August Pfluger, Republican of Texas, participates in the House Republican news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
In the letter, Pfluger asserts that Hegseth's ability “to communicate across institutional settings — with military leadership, congressional representatives, and front-line troops — will set him apart. His media experience and transparent communication style will be critical in implementing a clear vision that gets the ball rolling.” Through bureaucratic inertia.
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“Mr. Hegseth represents the strategic reset that our defense infrastructure requires: an unconventional but competent leader who can streamline the defense bureaucracy, accelerate modernization, and ensure America remains the world's most formidable military power,” Pfluger says.
Pflueger, an Air Force Academy graduate who served as an active-duty pilot for two decades and flew combat missions in Iraq and Syria. He later served on the National Security Council during Trump's first term before winning election in 2020 to the House of Representatives in Texas' 11th Congressional District.
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit on September 23, 2024 in New York City. (John Nation/Getty Images)
The letter was co-signed by Representative Michael Waltz of Florida – who was chosen by Trump to serve as National Security Advisor in his second administration. Waltz, a National Guard colonel, earned four Bronze Stars while serving in the Special Forces during multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. In 2018, he became the first Green Beret elected to Congress.
Fellow veterans who put their signatures on the letter are – in alphabetical order – Republican Reps. Mike Bost of Illinois, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Elijah Crane of Arizona, Jake Elzey of Texas, Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, Scott Franklin of Florida, and Mark Green. Tennessee, Clay Higgins of Lousiana, Wesley Hunt of Texas, Ronnie Jackson of Texas, Trent Kelly of Mississippi, Nick Lalotta of New York, Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Morgan Luttrell of Texas, Brian Mast of Florida, Richard McCormick of Georgia, Max Miller of Ohio, Corey Mills of Florida, Barry Moore of Alabama, Troy Niles of Texas, Zach Nunn of Iowa, and Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, Keith Self of Texas, Greg Steube of Florida, William Timmons of South Carolina, Derek Van Orden of Wisconsin, Brandon Williams of New York, Ryan Zinke of Montana and Dan Crenshaw of Texas.
