Amid growing scrutiny over President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson proposed an alternative candidate on CNN. Hegseth, a Fox News weekend co-host, faced intense backlash over his qualifications for the Pentagon chief position, compounded by past accusations of rape and reports of alcohol abuse.
During a conversation with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, Carlson expressed disbelief that Hegseth’s nomination would even reach a confirmation hearing. “I can’t believe it would ever go to a hearing,” Carlson said, raising concerns over the controversy surrounding Hegseth.
She speculated that Hegseth might have felt insulated from public scrutiny due to his Fox News platform. “Why would Pete Hegseth put himself in this situation? The only answer that I can come up with is that when you work at Fox it’s kind of like a bubble. And maybe he just felt like none of this would ever come out.”
Carlson also pointed out that Trump has faced repeated accusations of sexual misconduct without facing significant repercussions, drawing a parallel between Trump’s history and Hegseth’s own issues. Amid the uncertainty surrounding Hegseth’s nomination, Carlson suggested Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) as a strong alternative for the role.
“That is Sen. Joni Ernst,” Carlson remarked, noting that Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor, had expressed reservations about Hegseth. Carlson emphasized that Ernst’s background and history of voting against individuals with sexual misconduct allegations made her an ideal candidate.
“She would be a slam-dunk victory for President Trump,” Carlson added, revealing that she had heard through the grapevine that Ernst was second on Trump’s list of potential picks. Ernst, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has made it clear that she would thoroughly question Hegseth about the serious allegations against him.
“We’re just going to have a really frank and thorough conversation,” Ernst told NBC News, signaling her intent to ensure the nominee meets the necessary standards for the defense chief position.