WATCH: Pentagon Nominee Pete Hegseth Reveals Details From Call With Trump, Says He Won’t Back Down

Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday morning that he has no plans to withdraw his name from consideration, revealing a recent call he had with President-elect Donald Trump.

“I spoke to the President-elect this morning. He said keep going, keep fighting, find your own way,” Hegseth told reporters.

Asked about withdrawing his name, the combat veteran responded, “Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I’m here for the warfighters. This is personal and passionate for me.”

WATCH:

The next Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth: “I spoke to the President-elect this morning. He said keep going, keep fighting…

Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I’m here for the warfighters. This is personal & passionate for me.” ????
pic.twitter.com/LJFXkTBq1q

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 4, 2024

Hegseth’s former colleagues at Fox News came to his defense on Tuesday evening after an NBC News report fueled by anonymous sources claimed Hegseth was routinely drunk on air.

Fox News’ Will Cain, co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” responded to the NBC article, “Your story is horses*** @NBCNews. Put my name on it. On the record. It’ll be your only on the record source. Signed, The guy who sat next to him for 8 hours every week for five years starting at 6 am.”

Hegseth’s other former “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host, Rachel Campos-Duffy, issued a similar response. “The losers at @NBCNews never reached out to me either. @willcain is right – your story IS  horses***,” she wrote. “You now have 2 people who sat next to him 8+ hours a week on the record. Will you retract or correct your story?”

It was uncovered last month that Hegseth was accused of sexual assault back in 2017. An unnamed woman claims Hegseth sexually assaulted her in a hotel room following a conservative conference. Hegseth said that the encounter was consensual, and police decided against any further action.

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“It’s very simple,” Hegseth told the press. “The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.”

Notably, journalist and attorney Megyn Kelly went through the police report on her show and said that the accusation looks to be “bulls***” and stated that it appears the accuser “was not raped,” but panicked after her husband became suspicious that she cheated with Hegseth.

Reports circulated Monday evening that Trump is weighing the option of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as a replacement Secretary of Defense nominee.

Related: ‘Your Story Is Horsesh**’: Hegseth’s Colleagues Fiercely Defend Him After NBC News Attack