3 weeks ago
6
Donald Trump Jr
. has strongly backed
Pete Hegseth
, his father’s and US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defence secretary, after allegations of misconduct were reported by The New Yorker. The accusations, including alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and mismanagement at veterans' organisations, have sparked debate.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump Jr. slammed the New Yorker's report as "complete bullshit." He went further, accusing the corporate media of targeting his father’s nominees with false narratives. “They’ll lie, cheat, and steal to try to sink my father’s nominees,” Trump Jr. wrote. “The corporate media truly is the #EnemyOfThePeople!!”
The allegations against Hegseth stem from a 2015
whistleblower complaint
, which claimed he was repeatedly drunk during his time leading
Concerned Veterans for America
(CVA). The report described a particularly troubling incident where Hegseth allegedly had to be restrained at a strip club while intoxicated. Other claims included accusations that he and his team objectified female staffers, calling them “party girls” or “not party girls.”
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, swiftly denied the allegations, calling them “outlandish claims” from a “petty and jealous disgruntled former associate.” He also dismissed the report, telling reporters, “Get back to us when you try your first attempt at actual journalism.”
In response to the allegations, two former senior leaders of CVA denied the whistleblower claims, according to Compact magazine. They said Hegseth left the organisation because of policy differences, not personal misconduct. They also suggested the complaints came from former employees who were let go as the organisation expanded.
Sean Parnell, a former senior adviser at CVA, dismissed the allegations as “complete fabrications,” arguing that Hegseth left CVA due to professional differences regarding national security policy, not misconduct. He further revealed that Hegseth’s role at Fox News was expanding and that he had a book deal lined up, rejecting claims that he left without a job in hand.
The second CVA veteran believes that the ongoing backlash Pete Hegseth is facing comes from his outspoken views on US military involvement post-9/11. Hegseth, like many veterans, thinks the wars were disastrous and that he was misled. He wanted to challenge the national security establishment, which has made him a target for many.
However, Hegseth’s shift in views—from a staunch supporter of the War on Terror to a more cautious stance—hasn't been fully explained. The CVA veteran said lawmakers should focus on his evolving views on security rather than old, unproven personal accusations, which have been strongly rejected by his fellow veterans.
