Trump tells Hegseth to 'keep fighting', but readies alternatives

President-elect Donald Trump has told Pete Hegseth, his nominee to lead the Pentagon, to continue pursuing support for his nomination, but is also reportedly planning other options should Hegseth fail to secure the votes to claim the job.

“I spoke to the president elect this morning. He said, keep going, keep fighting," Hegseth said, according to Politico.

The Fox News media figure has faced scrutiny amid his prospective confirmation over prior sexual misconduct allegations and his qualifications to lead the Department.

Veteran groups have lined up behind Hegseth's nomination, highlighting his record of support for that community.

"The recent onslaught of attacks on his character are the last gasps of desperate and dying contrarians, hell bent on maintaining the pernicious status quo that is slowly choking out the warrior ethos in our military today," wrote Vets for Freedom Co-Founder David Bellavia.

But while Trump is rooting for Hegseth to secure the job, he is reportedly planning contingencies should it become apparent that he cannot win enough votes in the Senate.

Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, a one-time rival to Trump for the party nomination, has emerged as a backup option for the president, according to multiple reports.

Trump has previously dropped a nominee for a major post, with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrawing his nomination for attorney general in the face of stiff Senate opposition.