Staff Reports
Allegations against Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, have stirred up a hornet’s nest, and not the kind you’d find buzzing around a free barbecue. Recent claims from NBC, based on the accounts of unnamed former and current employees at Fox News, portray Hegseth as a potentially tipsy co-host during his days on “Fox & Friends Weekend.” The supposed drinking habits have been met with swift rebuttals from his colleagues, all coming to his defense like a well-trained SWAT team.
NBC’s article, which reads more like a poorly concocted gossip column than a serious news piece, claims Hegseth reeked of booze before heading on air more times than a Hollywood starlet at an open bar. Oddly enough, none of these anonymous sources could remember him ever skipping a live appearance due to his alleged fondness for the bottle. And isn’t it enlightening how the stories of supposed drinking always seem to surface right when someone’s political stock is about to rise? Many are seeing this as a blatant attack, likely penned at a liberal watering hole, hoping to sink Hegseth’s nomination before its sails can even catch the wind.
In classic fashion, coworkers like Will Cain and Rachel Campos-Duffy, who spent hours sharing the same studio with Hegseth, shot back at the NBC report with a dose of truth and a side of humor. Cain’s succinct dismissal of the allegations—two words turned to one disturbing phrase—captures the frustration of many when dredging up such unfounded claims. Meanwhile, Campos-Duffy waved off the unearthed gossip, demanding better reporting standards from NBC. It seems the crew at Fox is banding together, refusing to let baseless accusations spoil their camaraderie and undermine Hegseth’s character.
I choose to believe the people who actually worked closely with Hegseth and are willing to go on the record over anonymous cowards with empty accusations. https://t.co/e2zakj2ifn
— Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) December 4, 2024
Hegseth’s mother even weighed in on the saga, disputing accusations of past misconduct involving her son during his leadership of veterans’ organizations. Her defense drew attention to the media’s dubious tactics of using private letters as fodder for public scandal. She accused the New York Times of coercing her into submission with threats, a tactic that reveals the lengths to which some outlets will go to craft a sensational story. It’s a classic playbook for the left: Find something—anything—that can stick, and pounce on it like a cat on a laser pointer.
What the NBC report fails to realize is that political hit jobs are nothing new, especially when a president-elect is gearing up to confirm an important nominee. With Senate confirmation hearings looming, the timing of this smear campaign raises eyebrows and suspicions. It’s as if there’s an underground network of saboteurs in media, eager to discredit conservative candidates at the drop of a hat. With the backdrop of the Trump administration’s arrival, it appears that anti-Trump forces are out in full force, trying to throw a wrench into the gears of progress before they even get started.
