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Concerns have been raised about Pete Hegseth’s leadership abilities due to his troubles at work. As President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Hegseth left two nonprofits in financial trouble. Additionally, his history of drinking problems persisted during his time as a Fox News personality.
Written by Sharon LaFraniere, David A. Fahrenthold, Dave Philipps, and Kate Kelly.
After joining Fox News as a contributor, Pete Hegseth quickly gained popularity on the conservative media outlet. As a decorated combat veteran, Hegseth became the weekend anchor of the well-known show "Fox & Friends" and was recognized by viewers nationwide, including President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Mr. Trump was very impressed and decided to choose Mr. Hegseth, 44, to lead the Department of Defense. However, what was not well-known to viewers of Fox News, and likely to Mr. Trump as well, was the events that were taking place behind the scenes at the network.
On multiple occasions in his early years at Fox News, Mr. Hegseth’s excessive drinking and rowdy behavior at company events led to situations that were discussed by company officials or colleagues. These incidents highlight worries about his conduct that have put his chances of leading the Pentagon in jeopardy.
Mr. Hegseth has stated that he still has the complete backing of Mr. Trump, but as of Tuesday night, reports indicated that the president-elect was considering the possibility of selecting a different candidate for the esteemed position.
An insider revealed that the human resources department at Fox News investigated Mr. Hegseth’s behavior at the "Fox & Friends" Christmas party in 2016 and had a conversation with him about it. The source chose to remain anonymous in order to protect the privacy of the personnel matter.
In December of the following year, Mr. Hegseth became very intoxicated at a wedding hosted by a Fox News producer. Witnesses, who chose to remain anonymous, reported that he had difficulty standing in the men’s bathroom. Concerned friends requested a producer at the event to arrange a ride for Mr. Hegseth so that he could arrive on set by 6 a.m.
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