The future of Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense is increasingly uncertain, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. In an interview on Wednesday, Haberman discussed the growing skepticism surrounding Hegseth’s confirmation, noting that President-elect Donald Trump is privately expressing frustration with his nominee.
“Trump has been complaining privately to people that he feels like Hegseth should have been more upfront with him, that he gave him opportunities – I don’t know whether that’s true – but that’s what Trump is saying,” Haberman told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “We also know some of these things didn’t come up in a vet that the Trump folks say that they did of Hegseth.”
Hegseth’s nomination has faced mounting challenges as allegations about his past—including accusations of inappropriate behavior and controversies involving his time at Fox News and his leadership in veterans’ organizations—have resurfaced. These issues have led some to question whether Hegseth will survive the confirmation process.
Haberman highlighted that the uncertainty surrounding his nomination is evident even among those closest to Trump. “There are some people who are more optimistic than others,” Haberman said. “Most people in Trump’s orbit do not think that this is looking like a likely prospect that Pete Hegseth survives just because if you look at this litany of things that he is talking about, number one, these stories have been hanging out for a number of days.”
Haberman, a long-time reporter on Trump’s inner circle, also commented on Hegseth’s mother’s appearance on Fox News earlier this week. “She began that interview directing her remarks to Trump and so she knew what she was supposed to say,” Haberman observed. “Will it be enough? I don’t know, most people around Trump are pretty skeptical, and once he starts talking about possible replacements, it’s hard to see why senators – who are already skeptical – would be like, ‘Okay, now I’m going to go along with this.’”
As the confirmation process becomes more complicated, Hegseth’s prospects appear increasingly slim, with many wondering if Trump will seek another candidate for the key Pentagon position.