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President-elect Donald Trump on Friday appeared optimistic that he can get his choice for Secretary of Defense confirmed by the Senate early next year, despite recent criticism.

Trump tapped former Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to lead the defense department last month, touting him as a major supporter of veterans and the military. However, allegations have surfaced recently, accusing him of sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement. 

The former president said he still has confidence in Hegseth, and that senators have told him that they will support his nomination. Hegseth met with multiple senators this week in an effort to reassure them that the reports are unfounded. 

“It looks like Pete is doing well now,” Trump told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in an interview that will aire on Sunday. “I mean, people were a little bit concerned. He’s a young guy, with a tremendous track record actually. He 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.”

Trump said he has spoken to friends of Hegseth over at Fox News who have denied the allegation that the veteran has a drinking problem. Trump himself does not drink alcohol. 

“He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him through Fox, but I’ve known him for a long time,” the president-elect said. “He’s basically a military guy. Every time I talk to him, all he wants to talk about is the military. He’s a military guy.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.