Trump ditching defense secretary pick 'a real possibility': report

Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons
Maya Boddie
November 20, 2024Bank

Although Donald Trump is confident in his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, two sources tell Vanity Fair special correspondent Gabriel Sherman that some of the president-elect's allies are worried the Fox News host won't "survive" the allegations against him.

Per the report, one source told Sherman "that transition members are frustrated that Hegseth failed to disclose he had paid a financial settlement to a woman who alleged he raped her at a Republican women’s event in 2017."

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That source submitted, “People are upset about the distraction," adding, "The general feeling is Pete hasn’t been honest."

Both sources claim that the MAGA "transition team is quietly preparing a list of alternative defense secretary candidates should Trump abandon Hegseth."

One source emphasized "it's becoming a real possibility."

Sherman notes, "Trump spokesman Steven Cheung did not immediately respond Tuesday for comment, but last week told Vanity Fair that 'Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed,' and that the Trump team looked 'forward to his confirmation as United States secretary of defense.'"

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Sherman's full report is available at this link.