Senate Majority Leader John Thune has expressed confidence to President-elect Donald Trump that Pete Hegseth will secure the votes needed to be confirmed as Secretary of Defense, according to CBS News.
When questioned, Thune’s spokesperson declined to elaborate, stating, “Two things we don’t discuss publicly: Whip counts and private conversations with the president.”
In an interview on Face the Nation, Thune maintained that the confirmation process would be fair but emphasized the need for thorough vetting.
“These nominees have been making their rounds and conducting meetings, which have gone well so far,” Thune said. “But they still need to present their case in front of the committee. We don’t have all the information about some of these nominees yet.”
When asked by Margaret Brennan if he will advise and tell Trump when he is wrong he said, “I will and my job is to do everything i can to help him achieve success be a successful president, which in my view means that will be a successful country we have the same set of objectives we wanna get to the same destination and at times there will be differences how we get there.”
WATCH: Majority Leader Thune says he will advise Trump when he is "wrong" and says Trump needs to understand what’s “realistic” in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/DOr3XqR1Po
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Hegseth’s confirmation hearing is scheduled for January 14, according to Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker.
Trump announced Hegseth as his choice for Defense Secretary on November 12, shortly after the election. However, the nomination has faced backlash over past allegations of sexual misconduct.
The accusation
In 2017, an unidentified woman accused Hegseth of sexual assault in a hotel room in Monterey, California. Hegseth maintains the encounter was consensual, and prosecutors declined to press charges. A confidential financial settlement was reached in 2023.
Additionally, Hegseth’s tenure leading a veterans’ organization has raised concerns about his management style, and NBC reported that some colleagues at Fox News expressed worries about his alcohol consumption. Hegseth has pledged to abstain from alcohol if confirmed.
Other confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet nominees are also slated for the week of January 13, though many details are still being negotiated between Senate Democrats and Republicans.
Marco Rubio (Secretary of State) and Elise Stefanik (Ambassador to the United Nations) are set for hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Chairman James Risch hopes to confirm Rubio by January 20, the day Trump assumes office, but unanimous Senate cooperation will be required.
Pam Bondi, nominated for Attorney General, will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 14. Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has indicated FBI Director nominee Kash Patel will likely have his hearing later in January.
Senate Republicans are pushing to complete hearings for key national security positions before Trump’s inauguration. This includes nominees for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and others.
While Republicans aim for a swift process, Democrats may leverage procedural delays for more controversial candidates like Hegseth, potentially prolonging the confirmation timeline.
Despite the political tensions, Thune’s private assurances suggest that Hegseth has substantial support within the Senate, positioning him as a key figure in Trump’s incoming administration.