Hegseth hits out at media as affirmation doubts linger; Johnson appears to be like to Musk to axe 75% of presidency: Live
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Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, spent another day on Capitol Hill trying to drum up support for his confirmation as he continues to be dogged by allegations concerning sexual harassment and alcohol.
His mother Penelope appeared on his former network on Wednesday to defend him, having previously criticized his behavior towards women in a letter. Hegseth promised incoming Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker that, if confirmed, he wouldn’t drink.
As he left the complex on Thursday, he defiantly told reporters he only answered to Trump, god, his family, and the senators voting on his confirmation — not the media.
The future of his nomination appears to depend on whether he can gain the support of Senate Republican women. Trump’s transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon, including Senator Joni Ernst and, surprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are also on Capitol Hill, meeting with congressional Republicans about policy plans for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash spending at the federal level. Speaker Mike Johnson has said he intends to cut 75 percent of all federal agencies with the help of Musk.
Might Kash Patel’s litany of conspiracy theories sink his nomination to lead FBI?
And that’s just the start as Gustaf Kilander reports.
Sen. Blackburn to introduce DOGE legislation
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee says she will introduce legislation to further plans by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency to slash spending by the federal government.
Blackburn wrote on X: “I will be introducing legislation that coincides with @DOGE’s plan to make the federal government more efficient.
“My DOGE Act will freeze federal hiring, begin the process to relocate agencies out of the D.C. swamp, and establish a merit-based salary system for the federal workforce.”
An enthusiastic Musk thanked her.
Hunter Biden pardon: Furious Dems threaten to withhold donations to Biden’s presidential library
As a result, Biden could be facing a financial obstacle in trying to build his presidential library – a historical tradition for presidents once they leave office.
Ariana Baio reports.
Coming up: Two resolutions by Democrats to force release of Gaetz ethics report
Tuberville insists it’s not GOP’s ‘job’ to vet Trump’s cabinet picks
The GOP senator told CNN on Thursday that, in his opinion, it is up to Democrats to vet nominations, and that members of his own party should be inclined to automatically confirm them.
“Who’s to say we’re a better vetter and picker of people than Donald Trump?” Tuberville told CNN on Thursday.
Ariana Baio reports.
Watch: Shouting match erupts during Trump assassination attempt hearing
Shouting match over 9/11 erupts during Trump assassination attempt hearing
A shouting match over 9/11 erupted during a hearing about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania this summer. Secret Service acting director Ronald Rowe furiously rebuked Republican congressman Pat Fallon, who questioned his presence close to Joe Biden and the now-president-elect at a memorial event held at Ground Zero in September. Mr Rowe explained that a photograph cropped out members of protective detail. “I actually responded to ground zero. I was there, going through the ashes of the World Trade Center,” he furiously replied.
Trump plans to attend Army-Navy football game
Donald Trump is expected to attend the Army-Navy football game, Politico reports, citing two people who were granted anonymity to discuss the president-elect’s plans.
The game is set for December 14 in Landover, Maryland, and will be the 125th in the series.
Trump attended the game as president-elect in 2016 and three times while he was president.
Mexico’s president to ask Trump to deport non-Mexicans to their home countries
Mexico’s president said Thursday she will ask President-elect Donald Trump to deport non-Mexican migrants directly to their home countries, rather than dumping them at the Mexican border.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said she hopes to reach an agreement with Trump so that “they send people who come from other countries to their countries of origin.”
Read more…
Trump FBI pick Kash Patel targeted in Iranian cyberattack
Patel, a Trump loyalist who served on the National Security Council and as chief of staff to former Defense Secretary Chris Miller during his first term, was tapped on Saturday to lead the FBI.
On Tuesday, Semafor journalist Shelby Talcott first reported that Patel’s communications had been breached in what marks the latest in a series of alleged attacks from hackers emanating from Iran. Two sources later confirmed the attack to CBS News.
James Liddell reports.
Source: independent.co.uk
