Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary, doubled down on his commitment to securing the role in a fiery statement on Wednesday. As questions swirl over his qualifications and past conduct, Hegseth vowed to “fight like hell” to prove he is the right candidate to lead the Department of Defense.

However, his path to confirmation is far from certain. Republican senators have raised concerns about allegations of misconduct from Hegseth’s past, including his tenure as a Fox News host and his prior military service.

Everything else is gone. Everything else that distracts from that shouldn’t be happening. That’s the message I’m hearing from Senators in that advise and consent process. It’s been a wonderful process.”