Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is facing what he calls a “smear campaign,” likening his experience to the contentious confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Speaking on The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, Hegseth described a pattern of anonymous allegations and unverified reports aimed at derailing his nomination, a tactic he believes echoes the strategy used against Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation.

When Biden awarded the Bronze Star to an intelligence analyst, @Washingtonpost called it “one of the Army’s most prestigious awards” But when @PeteHegseth earns two of them, WaPo says “Actually, they’re pretty common” It’s (D)ifferent for some people pic.twitter.com/xgPSKSF3Xr

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) December 6, 2024

Hegseth shared a private conversation with a colleague who warned him of the escalating attacks: “They’re gonna make it up, just like they have so far. All anonymous, all innuendo, all rumor... because you’re a threat to them, to their system, to the swamp.” Despite the barrage, Hegseth expressed confidence, citing Kavanaugh’s eventual victory as a blueprint for resilience and resolve. “When you stand firm on that, it’s not difficult to just continue to fight,” he said. The allegations against Hegseth range from claims of sexual misconduct to accusations of excessive drinking, bolstered by a resurfaced email from his mother criticizing his treatment of women. However, Hegseth and his supporters have strongly countered these claims. His mother has since retracted her statements, appearing on Fox & Friends to clarify that her email was written “in haste” and insisting that the media has misrepresented her words.

Bronze Stars earned are not common among officers or enlisted soldiers. They’re not participation trophies like you give kids and tell them “yay, you’re a winner.” You get those Bronze Stars for heroism. My God the WaPo is the absolute worst. https://t.co/syyMPx7IYu

— Pete🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@usafss74) December 6, 2024

Hegseth decried the lack of credible sources in the accusations against him, pointing out that journalists haven’t consulted those closest to him. “They never ask the people from whom I served with in combat, the veterans I’ve worked with, or my colleagues at Fox News,” he noted. Instead, he argued, the media relies on “a couple anonymous nuggets” often supplied by disgruntled individuals with ulterior motives. Trump’s support for Hegseth remains steadfast, reflecting the same loyalty he showed to Kavanaugh during his confirmation fight. Hegseth described the attacks as part of the “classic art of the smear,” where small truths are distorted into sweeping narratives. Despite the noise, friends and colleagues have rallied behind him, with Fox host Will Cain curating a thread of testimonials on X in support of Hegseth.