US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirms support for defence secretary Pete Hegseth despite growing backlash

America’s next president says his Defence Secretary is “high energy” and has “charisma” as Pete Hegseth fights a growing number of allegations from public drunkenness to sexual assault.

Donald Trump given his strongest endorsement yet of his embattled Defence Secretary pick amid growing calls for Pete Hegseth to turn down the plum role.

The US President-elect posted a glowing tribute to Mr Hegseth on his Truth Social account on Friday, telling naysayers to back off.

Secretary of Defence nominee Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters after meeting with politicians on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Mr Trump wrote.

“He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defence … one who leads with charisma and skill.

“Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”

Mr Hegseth is in the firing line with a growing number of allegations spanning from drunken antics, to sexual assault and being asked to step away from a number of military veterans organisations.

He denies any wrongdoing, however this week he told a number of concerned Republican senators, including Missouri’s Eric Schmitt, he is abstaining from alcohol.

“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,” Mr Schmitt said.

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ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT HEARING GETS HEATED

A hearing into assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump turned into a shouting match between a top cop and Republicans. Tensions boiled over when acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe was grilled on why it took him nine days to visit the Butler, Pennsylvania site, where the first attempt was made on Mr Trump’s life.

Rowe, who was deputy director at the time, visited the site only after he was made acting director following the resignation of his boss Kimberly Cheatle.

Republican Pat Fallon then showed a photo of Rowe standing near Mr Trump during a visit in New York to mark the 0/11 terrorist attacks without a protective agent in view when the hearing took a turn.

Republican Pat Fallon gets into a heated exchange with US Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. during the hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

It comes amid criticism from within the Secret Service that Rowe’s attendance at the memorial last month affected chain of command and therefore undermined Mr Trump’s security.

“Who is usually at an event like this closest to the President of the United States?” Fallon asked Rowe, the New York Post reports. “Were you the special agent in charge of the detail that day?”

Rower interjected: “Actually, let me address this”, and added, “Actually, congressman, what you’re not seeing is the SAC [Special Agent In Charge] of the detail out of the picture’s view. And that is the day where we remember more than 3000 people that have died on 9/11.

US Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. gets into a heated exchange with Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX). Picture: Getty Images via AFP

He continued: “I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes of the World Trade Center,” he added.
“I was there congressman — I was there to show respect for a Secret Service member that died on 9/11. Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes.”

Fallon pushed further: “I am not asking you that. I am asking, were you the special agent in charge?”. He then added, with his voice raised: “You were not — Oh that’s a bunch of horse hockey.”

“You know why you were there, because you wanted to be visible, because you are auditioning for this job that you’re not going to get,” Fallon shouted, accusing Rowe of endangering lives.

Rowe shouted back: “You are out of line, congressman. Way out of line,” Rowe screamed in response. “I am a public servant who has served this nation and spent time on our country’s darkest day.”

BARRON’S VIRAL VIDEO

A video clip of President-elect Donald Trump introducing his son Barron to UFC founder Dana White has gone viral with social media users hearing the youngest Trump son speak.

The clip shows the president-elect introducing his 18-year-old son to White on election night ad will be used in the documentary series “Art of the Surge,” following Mr Trump’s most recent presidential campaign,

Barron comes across as very polite and is seen greeting a woman who is off-camera in the clip.

“Hello. How are you? It’s very nice to see you,” he says, shaking her hand before he turns his attention to the UFC boss.

Mr Trump, 78, notes that his towering son, who rarely appeared on the campaign trail, is very popular among his supporters.

“I gave him a shout-out last night, the place went crazy: Ba-ron, Ba-ron,” Trump tells White, possibly referring to a campaign rally.

“Hello. How are you? It’s very nice to finally meet you,” he says as he takes a step towards White and leans in offering his hand.

The president-elect appears surprised that the two had never met before.

He then asks White, who introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, “Can we make him into a fighter?”

The quip drew laughs from onlookers and a chuckle from Barron who simultaneously shook his head at the idea of cage fighting himself.

The “Art of the Surge” snippet drew a stream of comments from people claiming they have never heard Barron’s voice before.

“First time I’ve ever heard Barron talk,” read one comment on the video.

“Barron has his Dad’s speech cadence!” an X user said of the New York University student’s voice.

“Sounds like Timothée Chalamet,” another person said, likening Barron’s voice to the Hollywood actor’s.

“Barron is such a gentleman,” one person said of the teenager’s interactions with Trump’s guests on election night.

Trump has said Barron was extremely influential in getting him to do interviews on alternative media during his campaign, such as Joe Rogan’s popular podcast.

MUSK ARRIVES TO WASHINGTON WITH HIS LITTLE HELPER

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and one of Donald Trump’s closest allies, met with US politicians on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration.

President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on Capitol Hill with his son X A A-Xii. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk’s star power and intense influence in Mr Trump’s inner circle bring political clout.

As Musk, with his son X A A-Xii on shoulders, and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with politicians, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted “a new day in America.”

“There’s an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse,” he told reporters.

“Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well.”

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Co-Chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arrives at the US Capitol. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs.

Originally published as US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirms support for defence secretary Pete Hegseth despite growing backlash