As Defense Secretary-Designate Pete Hegseth continues to do the work in furtherance of his Senate confirmation, the Regime Media continue to do the work to make sure he never gets confirmed. With the anonymously-sourced allegations out in public, the media now work to maintain pressure.
Watch as ABC News, the most Biden/Harris-sycophantic news division throughout the campaign, stoops to a new low by seemingly mocking Hegseth’s mother’s appearance on Fox & Friends:
MARY BRUCE: And tonight, Hegseth now relying on his mother, too, to make the case for him. Today on Fox News, his mother saying he's a changed man. But when asked about a 2018 email she wrote him accusing her son of being an "abuser of women," she didn't deny the email, but maintained he's different now.
PENELOPE HEGSETH: I would just say that some of those -- some of those attachments or descriptions are just not true, especially anymore.
BRUCE: Tonight, with a growing number of Republican senators signaling they are not behind him, Hegseth, an Army veteran with no military leadership experience, still making the case for himself.
PETE HEGSETH: That's what Donald Trump asked me to do. “Your job is to bring a war-fighting ethos back to the Pentagon. Your job is to make sure that it's lethality, lethality, lethality. Everything else is gone. Everything else that distracts from that shouldn't be happening.” That's the message I'm hearing from senators in that advice and consent process.
BRUCE: He can lose just three Republican senators. Today trying to court key skeptics, including Republican senator Joni Ernst, who could also be up for the job if Trump moves on.
We may have arrived at Mean Girls territory with Mary Bruce’s lingering on Hegseth’s mom. Of course, the purpose of such lingering is to extend the shelf life of the dubiously-sourced email published in The New York Times, notwithstanding its being refuted at every turn by Mrs. Musk among others.
The rest of the report dovetailed with everyone else’s on the matter: rehash the allegations, cast Hegseth as way unqualified for the post, spread headcount speculation, and advance replacement candidate theories.
After making fun of Hegseth’s mother, Bruce went on to attempt to shame him, by falsely smearing him as unqualified:
BRUCE: Tonight, with a growing number of Republican senators signaling they are not behind him, Hegseth, an Army veteran with no military leadership experience, still making the case for himself.
Hegseth, of course, was a Platoon Leader while in the Army, which is significant. OF course, the “military leadership experience” Bruce alludes to is experience within the D.C. blob.
Over at CBS, Nikole Killion mentioned Hegseth’s mom briefly, and didn’t linger too long before moving on to the next subject:
NIKOLE KILLION: His mother Penelope also took to the airwaves and appealed to lawmakers, walking back a scathing 2018 email reported by The New York Times where she called her son an abuser of women.
Garrett Haake’s report for the NBC Nightly News went along those very familiar lines: refresh the smears, recirculate the Senate headcount speculation, and further indicate to viewers that Hegseth is unqualified to disrupt the Department of Defense.
The Regime Media, having created a sense of vulnerability with regard to this candidacy, now seek to destroy it.
Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports, as aired on their respective network evening newscasts on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024,
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
12/4/24
6:40 PM
DAVID MUIR: We turn now to President-Elect Trump's embattled nominee for Defense Secretary, former Fox host Pete Hegseth. Standing firm tonight, saying Trump has told him to keep fighting. Hegseth's own mother now defending him on cable TV. But tonight, ABC News has also learned that Trump is now privately considering other potential choices to lead the Pentagon. Mary Bruce with the list.
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, Donald Trump's embattled pick for Secretary of Defense, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, says he will keep fighting.
PETE HEGSETH: I spoke to the President-Elect this morning. He said, "Keep going. Keep fighting. I'm behind you all the way."
NIKOLE KILLION: So you're in this all the way?
HEGSETH: Why would I back down? I've always been a fighter.
BRUCE: Hegseth back on Capitol Hill facing a barrage of new questions about troubling allegations involving alleged sexual misconduct, alcohol problems, and financial mismanagement. And tonight, multiple sources tell us Trump is now considering other options to lead the Pentagon.
UNKNOWN: Excuse us.
REPORTER: Are you planning to drop out?
BRUCE: Today, Hegseth calling those allegations "the art of the smear," adamantly denying a rape accusation, and saying he doesn't have a problem with alcohol. Even promising not to drink if he gets the job.
ERIC SCHMITT: He offered up to me -- and I know he has with other senators too -- that he's not drinking, and that's not something he's going to do when confirmed here.
BRUCE: And tonight, Hegseth now relying on his mother, too, to make the case for him. Today on Fox News, his mother saying he's a changed man. But when asked about a 2018 email she wrote him accusing her son of being an "abuser of women," she didn't deny the email, but maintained he's different now.
PENELOPE HEGSETH: I would just say that some of those -- some of those attachments or descriptions are just not true, especially anymore.
BRUCE: Tonight, with a growing number of Republican senators signaling they are not behind him, Hegseth, an Army veteran with no military leadership experience, still making the case for himself.
HEGSETH: That's what Donald Trump asked me to do. “Your job is to bring a war-fighting ethos back to the Pentagon. Your job is to make sure that it's lethality, lethality, lethality. Everything else is gone. Everything else that distracts from that shouldn't be happening.” That's the message I'm hearing from senators in that advice and consent process.
BRUCE: He can lose just three Republican senators. Today trying to court key skeptics, including Republican senator Joni Ernst, who could also be up for the job if Trump moves on.
HEGSETH: We had an engaging and constructive conversation.
JONI ERNST: It was a very thorough conversation.
BRUCE: With Ernst on Trump’s possible replacement list, when asked about it by reporters --
ERNST: Mr. Hegseth is the nominee.
BRUCE: If it's not Hegseth, we've learned Trump is not only considering Ernst, but also possibly Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
JOSH HAWLEY: It's not 100% clear to me who he wants as Secretary of Defense right now. And I defer to him.
MUIR: So let's get right to Mary Bruce, live at The White House again tonight. Mary, Senator Joni Ernst really didn’t want to engage there when she was asked about being a possible replacement for Hegseth. How about Governor Ron DeSantis tonight? Does he want the job?
BRUCE: Well, David, sources tell us that Trump and DeSantis did speak about this yesterday and that DeSantis has made it very clear he is interested in the job, but they were bitter rivals during the primary. It would be quite something to see DeSantis join the Trump administration, given their past. David.
MUIR: Mary, thank you.
CBS EVENING NEWS
12/4/24
6:34 PM
NORAH O’DONNELL: Tonight, Donald Trump’s embattled pick to run the Pentagon says he's looking forward to an FBI background check, adding it's an opportunity for a real investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Pete Hegseth also saying today that if he's confirmed as Secretary of Defense, there won't be a quote: "drop of alcohol" on his lips. CBS's Nikole Killion reports from Capitol Hill.
NIKOLE KILLION: Tonight, President-Elect Donald Trump's Pentagon pick is not backing down after multiple sources told CBS News Trump could be seeking to replace the embattled designee with Florida Governor Ron Desantis. Do you have any conversations with the President-Elect about him replacing you? With Governor DeSantis?
PETE HEGSETH: I spoke to the president this morning, he said keep going, keep fighting.
KILLION: You are in this all the way?
HEGSETH: Why would I back down? I'm here for the war fighters. This is personal and passionate for me.
KILLION: Hoping to combat a flood of negative headlines, Pete Hegseth went on a full-court press Wednesday, starting with a Wall Street Journal op-ed defending his conduct at two veteran nonprofits where he was accused of financial mismanagement, and in a new interview he addressed accusations of excessive drinking.
HEGSETH: First of all, I've never had a drinking problem. No one has ever approached me and said, “oh, you should really look at getting help for drinking.” Never.
KILLION: His mother Penelope also took to the airwaves and appealed to lawmakers, walking back a scathing 2018 email reported by The New York Times where she called her son an abuser of women.
PENELOPE HEGSETH: I wrote that in haste. I wrote that with deep emotions. Pete is a new person. He is redeemed, forgiven, changed.
KILLION: Are you a changed man?
HEGSETH: I love my mom and I appreciate her. And by the grace of God, all of us change, and I'm grateful for that.
Killion: Still, some senators seem unconvinced.
KEVIN CRAMER: The allegations are very, very serious. They can't be trivialized.
KILLION: Hegseth's meeting today with Iowa Republican Joni Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault, was considered critical.
How was your conversation with Senator Ernst?
HEGSETH: We had an engaging, constructive conversation.
JONI ERNST: It was a frank and thorough conversation.
KILLION:: Senator Ernst, who is also a combat veteran, has been mentioned as a potential Defense candidate, but tonight, when asked whether she's under consideration, she told me Mr. Hegseth is the nominee. As for Governor Desantis, sources tell CBS News he is interested in the job, and considered confirmable. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Nikole Killion, with all that new information. Thank you .
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
LESTER HOLT: We turn now to the confirmation challenges for President-Elect Trump's choice for Defense Secretary. Pete Hegseth speaking out as we've also learned Trump may be eyeing a former primary rival to replace him. Here's Garrett Haake.
GARRETT HAAKE: President-Elect Trump's selection for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, facing what may be a make-or-break moment for his nomination amid wavering GOP support. Hegseth defiant, saying Trump told him today…
HEGSETH: Hey Pete, I got your back. It's a fight. They’re coming after you. Get after it.
HAAKE: The former Fox News host and decorated combat veteran speaking to Megyn Kelly, pushing back on damaging stories about his background.
HEGSETH: What has been said about me, it was so ridiculous and all anonymous that we didn't want to give it oxygen. What you’re seeing right now with me is the art of the smear.
HAAKE: NBC News has reported ten current and former Fox News employees say he drank in ways that concerned them.
HEGSETH: First of all, I never had a drinking problem. What do guys do when they come back from war often times? Have some beers.
HAAKE: Hegseth adding that if confirmed, he would stop drinking entirely.
HEGSETH: This is the biggest deployment of my life. There won't be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I'm doing it.
HAAKE: And addressing why he paid a settlement to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, an allegation he denies. Police investigated and Hegseth was not charged.
HEGSETH: I did it to protect my wife, I did it to protect my family, and I did it to protect my job.
HAAKE: But multiple Republicans have told NBC News at least six GOP senators are not comfortable supporting Hegseth. He can only afford three Republican no votes. Meeting with Iowa’s Joni Ernst today.
JONI ERNST: It was a frank and thorough conversation.
HAAKE: Did he ask for your vote specifically?
ERNST: Thank you.
HAAKE: And the President-Elect may already be preparing a backup plan. Two sources tell NBC News Trump is considering other options for The Pentagon if Hegseth falters, including Florida Governor and Navy veteran Ron DeSantis. Trump talked to the governor and wants him to do it, a source familiar with the conversation told NBC News. Trump and DeSantis, once primary rivals.
RON DESANTIS: I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star.
DONALD TRUMP: And it's time for Ron DeSanctus to hang it up.
HAAKE: But DeSantis ultimately endorsing Trump.
DESANTIS: He’s been prosecuted and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down and we cannot let America down.
HAAKE: Some top Trump allies now in a holding pattern.
JOSH HAWLEY: I will support whoever he wants. It’s not 100% clear to me who he wants as Secretary of Defense right now.
HOLT: And Garrett, despite the challenges for Hegseth, Trump is moving quickly to fill a lot of his administration posts.
HAAKE: That's right, Lester. He named at least 13 picks so far today, including Peter Navarro to be an advisor on trade. Navarro served four months in prison for defying a subpoena from the January 6th Committee. Today, Trump touting his support for tariffs. Lester.
HOLT: Garrett Haake. Thank you.
