Trump Stands by Hegseth Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

President-elect Trump continues to support Pete Hegseth as defense secretary despite resurfaced allegations of sexual assault from 2017, raising scrutiny.

l 63%

c 25%

r 13%

Lawyer says Hegseth paid woman after allegation of sex assault but he denies wrongdoing

PBS NewsHour

7 things to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's defense secretary pick

PBS NewsHour

Two of President-elect Trump's Cabinet picks face sexual misconduct allegations

CBS News

What We Know About the Sexual-Assault Allegation Against Pete Hegseth

New York Magazine

Trump’s nominee for defense secretary reignites debate over allowing women to fight on the front lines

PBS NewsHour

Trump stands by defense pick who says encounter with woman was not sexual assault

Boston Globe

Trump transition team stands by Pete Hegseth amid sexual assault allegations - Washington Examiner

Washington Examiner

Trump defence pick paid accuser to save Fox News job, but denies claim

BBC News

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Donald Trump remains committed to his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, despite allegations of sexual assault from 2017. Hegseth's legal representation claims he settled with the accuser to avoid a baseless lawsuit. The incident involved Hegseth's purported consensual encounter at a Republican women’s event. Allegations gained attention following a memo sent to Trump's transition team detailing the accusations. Hegseth’s nomination has faced skepticism due to his lack of traditional military leadership experience and controversial views on women in combat. Trump's administration has faced scrutiny over their vetting process for Hegseth.

Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.