President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet Wednesday with another moderate Republican whose vote will be closely watched in the confirmation battle.
Hegseth will sit down with Senator Susan Collins as he continues to make the rounds to drum up support amid allegations of sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behavior, which he denies.
Collins expressed skepticism about Trump’s choice of Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, telling a local Maine news station last week that she had many questions she wanted to ask him. Collins said she had concerns about the allegations, including those about his treatment of women.
Their meeting will come after his meeting Tuesday with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is seen as another potential GOP swing vote. Murkowski said they had a “good exchange” but did not indicate whether she had been moved to endorse him.
Hegseth is one of many Trump administration officials on Capitol Hill this week.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security, met with several Republican senators on Tuesday.
While leaving a meeting with Senator Rand Paul, Noem was asked if she would support Trump’s plan to mass-deport immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. Deportations were a central promise of Trump’s 2024 campaign.
“I will enforce the president’s agenda,” Noem replied.
Noem also left the door open for a deal with Democrats to protect “Dreamers,” or immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as young children. Trump floated the idea during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” despite his efforts to undermine the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program during his first administration.
“You know, I appreciate the president’s word on this issue and I know he wants our laws upheld, so I will work with him to make his vision come true,” Noem said.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, and Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, have also been spotted walking the halls of Hart’s Senate building.
For Patel to take on the role, current FBI Director Christopher Wray would have to resign or be fired.
Several Republican senators expressed this week that they would be okay with Wray leaving or stepping aside.
“I like Director Wray, but I think it’s time for a fresh start at the FBI,” said Senator Lindsey Graham.
“Obviously, Director Wray would be fired. That’s obvious,” said Senator Markwayne Mullin.
