Trump shows public support for embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday publicly showed his support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee for defense secretary, for the first time since Hegseth made the rounds on Capitol Hill speaking to Republican senators amid allegations of misconduct.

“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.

“He was a great student – ​​he studied at Princeton/Harvard – with a military mindset. He will be a fantastic, energetic Defense Secretary who will lead with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER and there’s nothing there.” “This is what can be done to change that,” Trump added.

The post follows Trump’s public silence as Hegseth met with Republican senators every day this week amid new allegations of sexual impropriety, financial mismanagement, public drunkenness and other personal misconduct.

The New Yorker reported on the allegations over the weekend. ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine’s report.

Hegseth has denied the allegations but told senators he is a “changed” man and vowed not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed as Pentagon chief.

ABC News previously reported that Trump did not make calls on Hegseth’s behalf, as he did for Matt Gaetz, who also faced sexual assault allegations. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.

But Hegseth vowed not to back down Thursday as he wrapped up meetings with senators tasked with confirming him.

“The conversations were intensive and partly open,” he said. “There are big questions about politics, about personality, about everything, so we’re going to earn those votes by fighting all the time.”

However, his confirmation remains far from certain. Republicans will have a narrow majority of three seats in the Senate next year.

According to ABC News, Trump’s team focused on finding out where the nine Republican senators stand on Hegseth. So far, one important Republican on the Armed Services Committee in particular – Joni Ernst – has not yet supported Hegseth. Two senators — Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Katie Britt of Alabama — have endorsed Hegseth.

Several Republican senators have said they would like to see background checks for Trump’s Cabinet members.

Multiple sources, including a Trump transition official, have confirmed to ABC News that Hegseth will receive a background check from the FBI. Hegseth told the transition team earlier this week that he would be willing to accept the check.

Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, said on CNN Thursday that Hegseth’s name had been submitted to the FBI and that the FBI gave them the necessary forms on Wednesday.

“I expect that the background check will pick up on many of the false stories that have been spread in the media and completely deny them. I think the surprise you’ll find is how wrong it all is.” “The reporting was,” Parlatore said.