“His Passion for the Military” – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:14 AM – Monday, December 9, 2024
Pete Hegseth, selected by President-elect Donald Trump as defense secretary, has garnered grassroots backing from over 100 members of the military community, who plan to march in his support during his confirmation hearing.
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Bill Brown from the Navy SEAL Foundation, an accomplished Navy SEAL veteran, is organizing the event where more than 100 Navy SEAL veterans will march to back Hegseth’s confirmation, acknowledging his long-standing support for the Navy SEAL community.
“Pete Hegseth has been crucial in promoting the Navy SEALs Swim event. He has swum across the Hudson River for several years, and he has consistently advocated for the Navy SEALs. Now that he needs support, the Navy SEAL community and Bill Brown are stepping up to assist him in any way possible,” remarked podcast host Alec Lace.
Hegseth, a former combat veteran and weekend anchor of Fox News, has actively participated in the annual New York City SEAL Swim across the Hudson River, a challenging multi-sport open-water swimming event designed to unite former SEALs, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders nationwide.
Lace reported that Brown circulated a chain email to participants of the Navy SEALs Swim, which received an “immediate and overwhelming” positive response from veterans eager to support Hegseth, who has contributed to the event over the years.
“Now the veteran community, especially the SEAL community, is prepared to stand by Pete,” Lace affirmed.
This support arises amidst Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) hesitance to endorse Hegseth, a stance that has drawn criticism from Trump’s supporters.
Ernst is expected to play a significant role in Hegseth’s confirmation, as backing from Republican senators is crucial.
Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault, expressed the need to “speak to Hegseth” about issues related to sexual assault in the military, implying her concerns regarding Hegseth’s character due to past misconduct allegations from 2017, which he has firmly denied.
Furthermore, Ernst indicated the necessity of discussing women’s roles in the military with Hegseth, who has previously stated his opposition to women serving in combat positions.
“As a survivor of sexual assault, I have actively worked on sexual assault initiatives within the military. I would like to hear more about that, and I’d like to discuss women’s roles in our esteemed United States military,” Ernst stated.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding Hegseth’s confirmation, Trump reaffirmed his support, describing him as “a young guy with an impressive track record.”
“Pete is doing well now, I mean, there were some concerns. He’s a young man with an impressive history. He attended Princeton and Harvard and excelled in both, but he has a passion for the military, and I think people are starting to recognize that. We will be advancing his nomination alongside many others,” Trump remarked in an interview.
“I’ve known him through Fox for quite a while, and he’s fundamentally a military person. Whenever I speak to him, his focus is always on the military. He’s a military guy,” Trump added.
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