Speaker Mike Johnson expresses optimism about Pete Hegseth's confirmation chances

Though some of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are likely to have a relatively straightforward path to confirmation, others are proving to be a bit more problematic.

Trump's choice of Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon in the new administration has hit a series of roadblocks due to past allegations of misconduct, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) this weekend expressed optimism about the former Fox News personality's chance of confirmation, as The Hill reports.

Momentum shift underway

Hegseth has been diligently making the rounds on Capitol Hill, visiting senators who may harbor concerns about the allegations that have been raised about his candidacy for the role of Defense secretary.

Johnson, weighing in on where things stand during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend, suggested that in his estimation, Hegseth's confirmation odds are improving by the day.

“I'm optimistic about it. I've talked to a number of senators personally on the Hill just over the last couple of days, and it seems like the momentum's moving the right way,” Johnson revealed.

Referencing a years'-old sexual misconduct allegation leveled against Hegseth and other claims of character weakness, Johnson said, “We've all made mistakes in our lives, but we believe in redemption.”

Johnson went on to sing Hegseths' praises, saying, “What Pete brings to the table is a love for the military, a great education background, a great experience set, I think he's well-suited for the job. And he will shake up the status quo, which is why this pick is so important.”

More work to do

During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump himself reiterated his support for Hegseth's nomination, echoing Johnson's sense of positive movement among key senators, as ABC News reported.

“Pete is doing well now, I mean, people were a little bit concerned. He's a young guy with a tremendous track record,” Trump said.

Touting Hegseths' background, Trump noted that the nominee “went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student at both, but he loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. So we'll be working on his nomination, along with a lot of others.”

Asked directly about whether he expects Hegseth to survive the contentious confirmation battle, “Yes, I do. I really do. He's a very smart guy.”

As The Hill noted separately, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), seen as somewhat hostile to the nomination, stated that she plans to meet with Hegseth again in the week ahead to continue what she called “constructive conversations,” but whether those talks will move the needle in his favor, only time will tell.