Hegseth compares himself to 'warriors', refuses to back down
5 Min Read
Pete Hegseth has attributed the widespread criticism against him to fear of Trump from the Left rather than his own behavior and suspicious past.
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Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense speaks with reporters following a meeting with senators on November 21, 2024. (AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to run the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, declared Wednesday that he would not back down, despite allegations of alcohol misuse and sexual misbehavior in his past, which might hinder his confirmation in Congress.
"Our warriors never back down, & neither will I," Hegseth wrote on X. According to him, he will lead the Pentagon for warfighters not warmongers.
He asserted, "The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of [Trump] — and me. So they smear w/ fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want truth."
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday, US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the role of secretary of defense, replacing Hegseth.
Hegseth's nomination had sparked surprise within the US defense sector. A defense industry lobbyist told Politico that many had anticipated a nominee with significant experience in defense to helm the Pentagon.
While DeSantis is a leading contender, sources noted that he is not the only candidate under consideration, emphasizing that the next 48 hours will be pivotal in the decision-making process.
Hegseth says Trump continues to support him as pick
Hegseth also said that despite the allegations of sexual misconduct, he continues to enjoy Trump's support.
During an interview, Hegseth divulged that Trump told him, "You will need to be tough … But he paused again as I was walking away, and said, you are the man for this one."
Hegseth called the allegations a "classic art of the smear," underlining his belief that he is the best candidate for this position since he has military combat experience and can better comprehend what troops want, unlike commanders from an "air-conditioned office in Washington."
According to records published by the Washington Post in November, Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of rape in 2020 as part of a nondisclosure agreement to maintain his position as a Fox News anchor. His attorneys maintain the charges are unfounded and the encounter was voluntary.
Hegseth linked to war-crimes marred infantry
A report by the Washington Post recalled what was described as a "security incident" in Iraq, back in 2006, which involved US combat soldiers in Samarra. The soldiers participated in what was later revealed to be the intentional murder of two detainees on May 9, 2006.
The report details Pete Hegseth's involvement in observing military misconduct investigations during his deployment with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq and highlights his connection to high-profile cases, including those of Army officers Clint Lorance and Mathew Golsteyn, and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher.
After President Trump pardoned Lorance and Golsteyn and reinstated Gallagher's rank, Hegseth strongly defended these actions, arguing that such decisions were made under difficult combat conditions, despite evidence of law violations.
Hegseth closely followed the cases of Army officers Clint Lorance and Mathew Golsteyn, both charged with murders in Afghanistan, and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder but punished for posing with an ISIS fighter’s corpse.
He argued that Trump supported those making difficult, split-second decisions in combat, dismissing evidence of military law violations. "These are not cases where people went into villages to kill innocent people," he claimed.
Hegseth was deployed to Guantanamo Bay in 2004, where he served at the detention facility for 9/11 suspects and "war on terror" detainees. After a brief return to Wall Street, he volunteered for a 2005 Iraq deployment, leading Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.
'Kill Company' squad
Charlie Company, nicknamed "Kill Company" for its aggressive tactics, kept a whiteboard listing confirmed kills, including civilians. Hegseth, in a 2009 interview, explained that their aggressiveness was rooted in training at Fort Campbell, though he voiced concerns about civilian casualties during a mission. He was later reassigned to oversee governance projects in Samarra, but issues continued to surface for his former unit.
As the investigation into the deaths unfolded, the military's case against the soldiers began to unravel. Two soldiers, Hunsaker and Clagett, were charged with murder, while Girouard faced accusations of complicity and obstruction of justice. Graber, who had initially claimed he shot the detainee to "end his suffering", later admitted that he had acted out of "frustration and anger."
Moreover, critics of Hegseth’s potential nomination highlight his lack of experience leading large organizations and his controversial views, including advocating for the dismissal of generals supporting diversity, opposing women in combat, and claiming Islam is "not a religion of peace."
According to the report, his tattoos were flagged by National Guard colleagues after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as symbols linked to the far right, yet he denied any association, as per the report.
