Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the world's most powerful military, has come under fire after multiple reports have unearthed claims of drunken strip-club antics and multiple alleged instances of showing up to work while intoxicated.
All of this has put his nomination to lead the Department of Defense in serious doubt, but Hegseth issued a defiant post on X Wednesday morning informing his critics that he's not backing down.
"I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers," he wrote. "The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of Donald Trump -- and me. So they smear with fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want truth. Our warriors never back down, and neither will I."
Many observers, however, were quick to dismiss Hegseth's show of bravado given that damning new allegations about his behavior, including sources who have worked at both Fox News and the right-wing Concerned Veterans for America organization, keep leaking dirt on him.
"This is the last gasp, I think," observed journalist Chris Cilizza. "Feels almost over."
"We recognize the damage that the two of you can do, and we are repulsed by you," wrote X user Greg Camp. "Don't confuse that for fear of you."
Former Republican lawmaker Joe Walsh expressed disgust that Hegseth wasn't taking any responsibility for his actions.
"This is what Trump has taught his followers," he wrote. "Never admit wrongdoing, never apologize, never express any shame for anything bad you’ve done. Trump is humanly incapable of shame. His followers have learned from him. Hey Pete, undergo an FBI background check tough guy."
Progressive commentator Mehdi Hassan, meanwhile, took issue with Hegseth's claim that supporting him was a blow against so-called "warmongers."
"'Warmongers'?" he questioned. "Hegseth was once a big backer of the Iraq war. He has also suggested a pre-emptive strike on North Korea."
Another X user responded to Hegseth simply by posting video of the Hindenburg crashing.