Despite recently surfaced allegations of sexual assault and rumors his replacement has already been selected, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the world’s most powerful war machine says he isn’t going anywhere.

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, whom the president-elect has selected as the next Secretary of Defense, was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with Republican lawmakers in the hope of securing the votes required for confirmation.

Ahead of the meetings, the former National Guard Major penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal — and that the Trump transition team later blasted out to reporters later in the afternoon — in which he made clear he isn’t going to be chased away by bad press.

“I am grateful President-elect Trump chose me to lead the Defense Department, and I look forward to an honest confirmation hearing with our distinguished senators — not a show trial in the press,” Hegseth wrote.

According to the New York Times, Trump is considering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for Secretary of Defense if Hegseth cannot clear confirmation.

Hegseth’s nomination to lead the largest branch of the U.S. government and its millions of employees was met with immediate surprise by Washington insiders and defense experts alike, many of whom noted that Hegseth had never led a company or battalion, to say nothing of his inexperience at handling a multi-billion dollar budget.

Hegseth, 44, is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. A former infantry platoon-level commander, he deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He left the military after serving part-time for nearly two decades at the rank of Major and being awarded a pair of bronze stars.

Since leaving the military Hegseth has taken a leadership role at a pair of veterans organizations and a gig as a Sunday commentator on Fox News. He is also a best-selling author. Trump apparently considered Hegseth as a potential Veterans Affairs Secretary during his first administration but backed off when he was informed Hegseth would never clear confirmation.

It is unclear if he will find the support required to make it past the Senate’s “advice and consent” role in the nomination process. After Trump tapped Hegseth for the job, an allegation of rape — which he denies — and a letter penned by his mother labeling him a serial womanizer were made public.

This was followed by allegations Hegseth was frequently drunk while working for Fox and forced to step away from one of his charities. The nominee denies those allegations as well and casts doubt on their sourcing.

“I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers. The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of (Trump) — and me. So they smear (with) fake, anonymous sources (and) BS stories. They don’t want truth,” he declared via social media.

“Our warriors never back down, (and) neither will I,” Hegseth said.

On Wednesday, Hegseth met with Iowa’s U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran, who was expected to seek an explanation for Hegseth’s assertion that women have no role in combat.

Ernst was not forthcoming about their conversation after it ended, saying simply that she appreciates his “service to our country, something we both share.”

“Today, as part of the confirmation process, we had a frank and thorough conversation,” she said, offering no hint as to how she will vote on his nomination.