President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate former Fox News host and decorated war veteran Pete Hegseth for secretary of Defense has brought sharp opposition from left-wing critics.

One of those critics is New York Times contributor Sharon LaFraniere, who recently leaked an email written by Hegseth's mother. 

Source says LaFraniere is biased against Hegseth

According to Breitbart, the email was sent by Penelope Hegseth to her son six years ago during his divorce. She objected to the email's publication and told the the Times that it was sent "in anger, with emotion."

Mrs. Hegseth stressed that she quickly apologized for sending the message and went on to describe her son as being "a good father, husband."

Meanwhile, a Times source told Breitbart that is biased against Hegseth, stating, "She said that Pete Hegseth can’t be SECDEF [secretary of Defense] and that she's going to see to it."

"I kind of looked at her like she was crazy and wondered how she was going to see to it, but now I guess I don’t have to wonder anymore," the source acknowledged.

Author: "Democrats don’t have to deal with this BS"

Breitbart reported that author and veteran Sean Parnell slammed the story, writing, "The New York Times is publishing a 6 year old private email between a mother [and] her son. This is despicably low on so many levels."

"Families have issues. All the time. To make those issues public for the sole purpose of tanking a nomination is evil. Period. Pete has children," he declared.

"They will read this. Their friends will read it. It is irresponsible as hell to even publish such a thing. Democrats don’t have to deal with this BS. It’s sickening," Parnell continued.

"It is irresponsible as hell to even publish such a thing. Democrats don’t have to deal with this BS. It's sickening," he insisted.

Megyn Kelly mocks the Times for publishing email

Breitbart noted that Parnell wasn't alone in voicing words of condemnation for the Times and LaFraniere, as podcast and former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly also spoke up.

Kelly wrote in a social media post of her own that Hegseth's "mom sent him a 'you are behaving very badly' email during his divorce (she’s a good mom!) and the NYT is ALL IN on it."

ICYMI @PeteHegseth’s mom sent him a “you are behaving very badly” email during his divorce (she’s a good mom!) and the NYT is ALL IN on it. Next we will hear from his aunt who accused him of being late in sending his thank you cards after Christmas six years ago.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) November 30, 2024

"Next we will hear from his aunt who accused him of being late in sending his thank you cards after Christmas six years ago," she added.