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Concerns have been raised about Pete Hegseth’s leadership abilities due to his past troubles at work. As the defense secretary chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump, Hegseth led two nonprofits into financial trouble and reportedly continued to struggle with alcohol-related issues during his time as a Fox News personality.
Written by Sharon LaFraniere, David A. Fahrenthold, Dave Philipps, and Kate Kelly.
Pete Hegseth’s popularity grew quickly after he began appearing on Fox News as a contributor. As a veteran with a distinguished military background, he eventually became the weekend anchor of the well-liked "Fox & Friends" show. His presence on the network made him recognizable to viewers nationwide, including President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Mr. Trump was very impressed and decided to appoint Mr. Hegseth, who is 44 years old, to lead the Department of Defense. However, what was not well-known to viewers of Fox News, and likely not to Mr. Trump either, was the activity that had been taking place behind the scenes at the network.
On several occasions in his initial years at the network, Mr. Hegseth’s excessive drinking and disruptive conduct at Fox News events led to situations that were dealt with by colleagues or company officials. These incidents highlight worries about his behavior that have jeopardized his chances of leading the Pentagon.
Mr. Hegseth claims he still has the support of Mr. Trump, but as of Tuesday night, the president-elect was considering the possibility of choosing a different candidate for the important position.
An investigation was conducted by Fox News’ human resources department into Mr. Hegseth’s behavior at the "Fox & Friends" Christmas party in 2016. They had a conversation with him about it, as reported by a source familiar with the situation who wished to remain anonymous.
In December of the same year, Mr. Hegseth attended a wedding of a Fox News producer and became heavily intoxicated. Witnesses, who chose to remain anonymous, reported that he had difficulty standing up in the men’s bathroom. Concerned friends asked a producer at the event to arrange for Mr. Hegseth to be driven home so he could be on the set by 6 a.m.
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