The ink isn’t even dry on Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense, and the usual suspects in the media are already sharpening their knives. On Tuesday night, NBC News fired the first salvo, releasing a hit piece accusing Hegseth of abusing his second wife, a claim sourced from an affidavit submitted by his brother’s ex-wife—yes, you read that right, his brother’s ex-wife. The allegations? That Hegseth’s behavior caused his second wife to “fear for her life.”
Other outlets quickly jumped on the bandwagon, amplifying the story with headlines that would make you think Hegseth’s confirmation was already dead in the water. But hold on, because this story has more holes than Swiss cheese, and the media’s motives are as transparent as glass.
Here’s the kicker: the woman at the center of this alleged abuse—Hegseth’s second wife—has categorically denied the claims. Not only that, but she’s threatening legal action against those spreading what she calls outright lies. You’d think that would be a game-changer, right? Surely, if the supposed victim herself is calling the allegations baseless, the media would pause, re-evaluate, and maybe, just maybe, refrain from running the story. Nope. NBC News buried her denial deep in their report, while outlets like Politico didn’t bother mentioning it at all. Their headlines and social media posts conveniently omitted the most critical detail: the allegations are flatly denied by the person they claim to be protecting.
NEW — Senators received an affidavit Tuesday from the former sister-in-law of defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth in which she says his behavior caused his second wife to fear for her safety. https://t.co/3vjm0vmbcC by @news_jul @S_Fitzpatrick @ckubeNBC
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) January 21, 2025
This is a page straight out of the Brett Kavanaugh playbook, and it’s as predictable as it is disgusting. For those who don’t remember, Kavanaugh faced a coordinated smear campaign during his Supreme Court confirmation process—one built on unsubstantiated claims and orchestrated leaks, with the media playing the role of willing accomplice. Now, it’s Pete Hegseth’s turn to be run through the same gauntlet, because he’s a conservative, and worse, he’s about to take on a key role in President Trump’s administration. That makes him a target, plain and simple.
Let’s talk about the “source” of these allegations, because this part is almost laughable. The claim isn’t coming from Hegseth’s ex-wife. It’s coming from his brother’s ex-wife—someone with zero firsthand knowledge of the situation. Why is she making these accusations now, just days before Hegseth’s confirmation, when she’s had years to do so? What’s her connection to the family today? What are her political leanings? These are basic questions any journalist with a shred of integrity would ask before publishing such a story. But integrity isn’t the goal here, is it? The goal is to throw as much mud as possible, hoping something sticks.
How do you run that story with a straight face? pic.twitter.com/58DkgSTWlF
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 21, 2025
The press is hiding behind the existence of this affidavit as their excuse to report on what are clearly unsubstantiated claims. Never mind that the affidavit itself was leaked—undoubtedly as part of a coordinated effort to derail Hegseth’s confirmation. Never mind that it’s being contradicted by the very person it purports to protect. And never mind that if the roles were reversed—if this were a Democrat in the hot seat—these same media outlets would treat the story like radioactive waste.
This isn’t journalism. It’s political warfare, and the media is once again acting as the opposition arm of the Democratic Party. They’re not interested in truth; they’re interested in clicks, narratives, and taking down anyone who dares to stand in their way. But just like the Steele dossier and the Kavanaugh circus, this hit job is destined to backfire. The American people aren’t stupid. They see through this desperate attempt to sabotage Hegseth, and they’re fed up with a press that cares more about pushing agendas than reporting facts.
