Some of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have become embroiled in media-manufactured controversy over alleged scandals, such as Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, and doubts have been raised about whether they will make it through the Senate confirmation process.

If Hegseth is ultimately confirmed, it will be without any substantial assistance from Trump, as the incoming president has reportedly adopted a hands-off, "sink or swim" attitude toward his Defense pick and other controversial nominees, according to an MSNBC report.

Trump is said to be reluctant to expend much, if any, of his limited political capital on personally convincing hesitant Republican senators to set aside their particular reservations and vote to confirm Hegseth.

Trump not acting to support Hegseth with senators

On Friday, in response to the deluge of negative media stories about Hegseth over the past few weeks that detail several different anonymously sourced alleged scandals, President-elect Trump posted an encouraging message on Truth Social about his pick to head the Pentagon in the next administration.

"Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe," Trump wrote.

"He was a great student -- Princeton/Harvard educated -- with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill," he added. "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!"

Per MSNBC's Nicole Wallace, however, citing other media reports, that post on social media is about the extent of the support that Trump is willing to offer Hegseth as the nominee tries to rally support for his confirmation with multiple trips to Capitol Hill to meet with senators.

Trump is purportedly unwilling to make phone calls, exert his influence, or request favors on behalf of Hegseth, and instead has seemingly distanced himself from the nominee, though he is said to be watching closely to see how the situation develops over the coming weeks.

Trump hopes to "insulate" himself from possible failure of nominees

A similar report came from The Washington Post on Saturday, in which it was alleged that President-elect Trump was caught by surprise by some of the alleged scandals the media has dredged up against Hegseth, particularly the anonymous claims that he is an alcoholic with a heavy drinking problem.

To be sure, Trump has instructed his aides and allies and transition team to get out and defend Hegseth, and may even have encouraged primary threats against reluctant senators, but has not personally entered the fray himself in support of the nominee.

That is because, per The Post, Trump hopes to "insulate" himself from any possible political fallout if Hegseth is eventually compelled to withdraw himself from consideration or, arguably worse, fails to get confirmed after going through likely contentious hearings and votes.

He is also reportedly hesitant to expend any of his limited political capital and pull with Senate Republicans before he even enters office, as he will undoubtedly need to hold plenty in reserve for when it comes time for Congress to consider and pass aspects of his policy agenda.

Team Trump disputes reports about lack of support for Hegseth

Of course, the Trump team has forcefully pushed back against those reports and insisted that not only are they false but that Hegseth and others enjoy the full support of the president-elect, who is doing everything possible to ensure they are eventually confirmed by the Senate.

"Those who are peddling these outrageous and slanderous lies prove they are willing to sell themselves out in a despicable effort to smear an honorable man’s name," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said of the various reports against Hegseth. "America looks forward to Mr. Hegseth serving his country once again as Secretary of Defense."