Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, continued his efforts to secure support from Republican senators, engaging in meetings and addressing media inquiries on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday, the former military officer and Fox & Friends co-host met with several Republican senators, including Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Senator-elect Jim Banks (R-Ind.). These meetings followed earlier discussions with key figures like Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the incoming chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), the incoming Senate Majority Leader.

Hegseth's nomination has drawn considerable criticism, with allegations ranging from financial mismanagement to personal conduct issues. Despite this, Hegseth affirmed President-elect Trump's full support.

Following his meeting with Hegseth, Senator Scott expressed his admiration for individuals with military service and leadership experience, emphasizing Hegseth's commitment to supporting the troops. Scott pledged his full support for Hegseth's confirmation.

Senator-elect Banks also voiced his support, praising Hegseth's resilience and highlighting his potential to strengthen national security under President Trump's leadership.

Hegseth also addressed questions regarding his meeting with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who had expressed reservations about his nomination. He described the meeting as "productive" and "constructive," but declined to elaborate on the specifics of their discussion.

Hegseth expressed appreciation for the Senate's expertise and advice, emphasizing his willingness to learn and collaborate with senators as he seeks their confirmation.

Coincidentally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were also on Capitol Hill to discuss their new roles leading President-elect Trump's Department of Government Efficiency with Senator Thune.