US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his strong support for Pete Hegseth, his nominee for Secretary of Defense, despite allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct casting uncertainty over his confirmation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Hegseth as a "fantastic, high-energy" leader with a military mindset, asserting that he would excel in the role.

"Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe," Trump wrote. He added, "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!"

Vice President-elect JD Vance also came to Hegseth's defense, stressing his suitability to lead the Pentagon.

"For too long, the Pentagon has been led by people who lose wars. Pete Hegseth is a man who fought in those wars," Vance stated on X (formerly Twitter), underscoring Hegseth’s commitment to advocating for American troops.

Read more: Hegseth compares himself to 'warriors', refuses to back down

Allegations cloud confirmation process

Hegseth’s nomination faces hurdles after The Washington Post revealed allegations of rape settled through a nondisclosure agreement in 2020, which Hegseth’s lawyers have denied, asserting that the encounter was consensual.

Further complicating the narrative, The Washington Post highlighted Hegseth’s connections to military misconduct during his deployment with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. This includes his defense of soldiers involved in high-profile war crime cases, such as Army officers Clint Lorance and Mathew Golsteyn and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, all of whom were pardoned or reinstated by Trump despite evidence of wrongdoing.

Hegseth’s military career includes deployments to Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, where he led Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. His tenure, however, is marred by controversy over his defense of actions many deem violations of military law.

In response to criticism, Hegseth has consistently argued that these cases involved split-second decisions in combat. “These are not cases where people went into villages to kill innocent people,” he stated, justifying the pardons and reinstatements during his time as a Fox News host.

Despite the growing controversies, Trump and his team remain steadfast in their support, framing the criticism as politically motivated attacks on a nominee dedicated to U.S. troops.

As the confirmation process unfolds, Hegseth’s past, both as a soldier and a media figure, is likely to draw intense scrutiny in what promises to be one of the most contentious defense appointments in recent history.