Sen. John Fetterman plans to meet with Pete Hegseth on Thursday, making him the first Senate Democrat to sit down with Donald Trump’s embattled pick for Pentagon chief.
The Pennsylvania senator, known for his blunt and pragmatic approach, confirmed the meeting on Wednesday and said he’s not ruling out supporting Hegseth. His decision comes amid allegations against the former Fox News anchor of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement.
“He could theoretically become the head of the Defense Department,” he said. “I’ve discovered in my time in D.C. that that’s important. And, ‘Are you having a conversation with someone?’ I don’t know why that’s shocking.”
Fetterman, a populist outsider, said he wanted to hear out Trump’s pick.“I mean I’m waiting,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to have a conversation.”
Hegseth’s team is voicing new optimism about his chances of confirmation after MAGA allies waged a pressure campaign against Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who was seen as wavering until Monday when she struck a warmer tone.
As part of a weeklong blitz of Capitol Hill, Hegseth has meetings planned Wednesday with Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — as well as Montana Republican Senator-elect Tim Sheehy.
Hegseth on Wednesday met with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the incoming chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and widely viewed as a swing vote, for nearly an hour and half.
Collins said she won’t make up her mind until a FBI background check is completed and he testifies at an Armed Services confirmation hearing. The two spoke about a variety of topics, Collins said, including women in the military, sexual assault, NATO, and Ukraine. She said she also pressed Hegseth on the allegations against him, although did not say how Hegseth responded.
“I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters. “I obviously always wait until we have an FBI background check and one is underway in the case of Mr. Hegseth. And I wait to see the committee hearing before reaching a final decision.”