Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial choice for defense secretary, strongly reaffirmed his commitment to securing the position in a passionate statement on Wednesday. Despite growing concerns about his qualifications and past actions, Hegseth pledged to “fight like hell” to demonstrate he’s the right fit to lead the Department of Defense. However, his confirmation remains uncertain, as some Republican senators have expressed reservations about his past, including allegations of misconduct related to his time as a Fox News host and his military service. Hegseth emphasized that the focus should be on the core issues, not distractions, as he works through the Senate’s confirmation process, which he described as a positive experience so far.