Trump’s defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth faces ‘critical day’ as president-elect mulls other options: Live
President-elect’s pick for defense secretary dogged by allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness, Islamophobia and mismanagement of a non-profit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely and splitting right-wing media on his prospects as his candidacy faces an “absolutely critical day” on Wednesday.
Hegseth is due to take questions from the House Republican Study Committee today as well as appearing on Fox for an interview.
Hegseth’s mother Penelope is also due to appear on the channel, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter, as the Trump transition team reportedly considers alternatives to lead the Pentagon, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
On Tuesday, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sheriff Chad Chronister, withdrew from consideration, posting on X that he would be declining the “honor of a lifetime” after “the gravity of this very important responsibility set in”.
The president-elect’s choice for FBI director, Kash Patel, was also revealed to have been targeted by Iranian hackers while Trump himself pushed for the dismissal of the hush money case against him citing Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.
Nato chief warns Trump not to push Ukraine deal that would see Putin ‘high-fiving’ Iran
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
Trump’s conquest: President-elect posts bizarre AI pic of himself with Canadian flag (on a Swiss mountain)
Judge weighs whether to order Fani Willis to comply with lawmakers' subpoenas over Trump case
Watch: Sen Coons, close friend to the Bidens, weighs in on Hunter’s pardon
Jill Biden's final foreign trip as first lady will close with her and Trump at Notre Dame cathedral
Jill Biden was departing Tuesday on her final solo foreign trip as first lady, a six-day, four-country jaunt through Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that wraps with her joining President-elect Donald Trump and other dignitaries in Paris to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.
Read on...
Jill Biden's final foreign trip as first lady will close with her and Trump at Notre Dame cathedral
Jill Biden is departing Tuesday on her final solo foreign trip as first lady
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments