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The leadership abilities of Pete Hegseth are being questioned due to his issues at work. Despite being chosen as the defense secretary by President-elect Donald J. Trump, Hegseth has faced criticism for leading two nonprofits into debt. Additionally, concerns have been raised about his drinking habits, which reportedly continued during his time as a Fox News personality.
Written by Sharon LaFraniere, David A. Fahrenthold, Dave Philipps, and Kate Kelly.
Pete Hegseth quickly gained popularity as a contributor on Fox News, eventually becoming the weekend anchor of the well-liked "Fox & Friends" show. As a decorated combat veteran, he was recognized by viewers all over the country, including President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After being impressed by Mr. Hegseth, Mr. Trump decided to appoint him as the head of the Department of Defense. However, what was not widely known among Fox News viewers, and likely not known to Mr. Trump, was the events unfolding behind the scenes at the network.
On multiple occasions in his early years at the network, Mr. Hegseth’s excessive drinking and disruptive behavior at events related to Fox News became more serious and were dealt with by company officials or colleagues. These incidents highlight worries about his behavior that have put his chances of leading the Pentagon at risk.
Mr. Hegseth stated that he still has the full support of Mr. Trump, but by Tuesday evening, reports emerged that the president-elect was considering looking for a different candidate for the important role.
An anonymous source with inside information revealed that Fox News’ human resources department investigated Pete Hegseth’s behavior at the "Fox & Friends" Christmas party in 2016 and had a conversation with him about it.
In December of the next year, Mr. Hegseth attended a wedding of a Fox News producer and got extremely intoxicated. Sources who preferred to remain anonymous reported that he had difficulty standing straight in the men’s bathroom. Concerned friends asked a producer at the event to arrange a ride for Mr. Hegseth so he could make it to the set by 6 a.m.
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