Trump's outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation

This is not the time for equity,

he said, repeatedly casting women’s presence in the military as a threat to readiness

From what I can tell,

said Senator Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs while serving in combat in Iraq,

... Pete Hegseth worked for Charles Koch."

Republican communications and marketing specialist Nicole Tardif, who also formerly worked for Charles Koch, in a post responding to Trump's demands, on X, formerly Twitter

As of today, the incoming Trump Administration has hired over 1,000 people for The United States Government,

Trump's post reads

And I have to say, some of the questioning at that hearing, particularly by Senator Kaine, the Democrat from Virginia, who actually was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016, it was some of the ugliest questioning I have ever seen in a Senate confirmation hearing,

York said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends

What I was trying to get to is if you're capable of doing your job and you're able to still drink on the job or late in the evening, don't tell me that Pete can't,

he told Collins

This is the biggest deployment of my life, and there won't be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I'm doing it,

he added

First of all, I've never had a drinking problem. No one's ever approached me and said, 'You should really look at getting help for drinking.' Never, never sought counseling, never sought help, but I respect and appreciate people who do. But you know, what do guys do when they come back from war oftentimes? Have some beers. How do you deal with the demons you see on the battlefield? Sometimes it's with a bottle."

Hegseth said in an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show

I'd look around at 10 o'clock and be like, 'What am I going to do today? How about I drink some beers? How about I go have some lunch and have some beers? How about I meet my one or two buddies and have some beers?'

In an August 2021 appearance on The Will Cain Show podcast, Hegseth said

There was never any drinking on the job at Fox News. Multiple people have come out on the record using their names to refute these false anonymous claims."

Tim Parlatore, Hegseth's attorney, previously told Newsweek

My whole point was that the senators on the other side were trying to act like they had more morals than Pete Hegseth,

he said

As I've said to many of you in our private meetings, when President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense. He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That's it. That is my job."

Pete Hegseth, in his opening statement at the defense secretary nomination hearing

Some I can vote for, like the incoming secretary of agriculture, or Marco Rubio, or Representative Stefanik, and there's others, perhaps, that I will not. But whoever I vote for, it's going to be an informed choice. And I see that as doing my job. I don't see that as controversial."

Senator John Fetterman, in a January 4 interview with the Pennsylvania Capital-Star

He [Hegseth] was adequately able to answer all of my questions. He pointed out the woke issues at the Pentagon, and I think we're at a point where now we can start moving forward. People know where he stands on these issues. So yes, I will be supporting President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth."

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, speaking to a local radio station

I don't know if he [Fetterman] went down there [Mar-a-Lago] to make nice with Trump or because it's better weather for shorts, but he went down there this weekend. Trump had plenty of nice things to say about Fetterman, which suggests, yes, that Fetterman made some representations to Trump that pleased him. But yeah, I think there could be some Democratic defections there."

David Axelrod, speaking on the Hacks on Tap podcast

It was a totally fascinating meeting. He's a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely. They were both up, and I couldn't be more impressed. He's a commonsense person. He's not liberal or conservative. He's just a commonsense person, which is beautiful."

President-elect Donald Trump, speaking to the Washington Examinerabout meeting with Fetterman

Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense."

In a statement on her decision, Joni Ernst said

I think you are right. I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared and that's why we have to have a very thorough vetting process."

In the

The arrival of (Trump) … who has gone on record saying he wants this issue to be resolved by the time he assumes office … is the driving force that's getting us close to an agreement,

said Nader Hashemi, associate professor of Middle East and Islamic politics at Georgetown University

Gaza’s future is uncertain, (as is) the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict,

said Hashemi