Pete Hegseth: US army veteran, Fox News firebrand and now defence secretary nominee

Pete Hegseth has built a successful career as a right-wing TV figure, claiming that the underlying issue contributing to the US military's challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan is a focus on "wokeness."

Currently, Donald Trump has nominated a Princeton-educated Fox News host and military veteran for the position of secretary of defense. He is just one vote away from overseeing the largest and most powerful military in the world, which is also likely one of the most bureaucratic.

His path from a childhood in a suburban Midwest to leading the US military reflects both America's military blunders and the nation's shift towards Trump’s perspective of the US as a country undermined by leftist ideals.

In his twenties, he served at the Guantánamo Bay military detention facility and in Iraq, both times as part of the Minnesota National Guard. In his early thirties, he was sent to Afghanistan. From his late thirties up to this week, he established himself as a prominent commentator and eventually co-hosted a show on Fox News, the TV network most favored by Trump.

At one time, he got the name Jesus, written in biblical Hebrew, tattooed on his forearm. His other tattoos feature the Jerusalem Cross, which is strongly associated with the Crusades, inked on his chest, along with a US flag where the bottom stripes have been replaced by an M16 rifle and the phrase "We The People," among various others.

He previously stated that his National Guard unit pulled him from his assignment at Biden's inauguration due to his Jerusalem Cross tattoo, a symbol associated with white nationalist organizations.

During his shows, Hegseth, who is 44 years old, has presented a different perspective on the US military that closely mirrors Trump's perception of the nation. He contends that this once-revered military force has become less effective, particularly pointing to the mid-1990s as a crucial moment. Hegseth believes that efforts to promote inclusivity, along with high-profile cases of prosecuting its own servicemen for alleged war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, have contributed to this decline.

To understand his plans for transforming the US military, we can look at his recent comments to a podcaster. He emphasized the need for a shift in mindset to eliminate what he calls “socially correct nonsense.” This shift is particularly important given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the looming threats of open warfare between Israel and Iran, as well as a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the near future.

To start, Hegseth stated on the “Shawn Ryan Show” that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs should be dismissed, referring to the possible removal of General CQ Brown as a necessary change. He emphasized that any general or admiral involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, or what he called "woke nonsense," needs to be replaced.

He perceives a difference between brave soldiers and officers who burden the military with what he calls a "woke agenda." This perspective helped Hegseth gain attention during Trump's first term, where he was allegedly in the running for the position of head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This perspective on the military is encapsulated in the title of his popular book released this year, "The War on Warriors: Uncovering the Betrayal of Those Who Protect Our Freedom." In it, he cautions about an impending struggle where "patriotic American men will need to rescue" the "privileged individuals" of the liberal elite.

"It's not surprising that our military is facing a significant recruitment challenge right now, particularly among young white men," he notes in his book. "What motivates God-fearing, traditional, patriotic kids to join when they have to navigate accusations of racism and choose pronouns before they even step out on patrol with someone who is more focused on transitioning than on serving as a warrior?"

Throughout Trump's initial term in office, Hegseth continued to work with Fox News. During a live broadcast, he accidentally hit a band member while trying his hand at axe-throwing, a popular and increasingly trendy sport among men.

During Trump’s time out of office, Fox News became a platform for conservative American politicians and TV figures to heighten their critique of the US military's focus on diversity and inclusion under the leadership of Lloyd Austin, the first Black Secretary of Defense.

Austin faced intense backlash from conservative critics after he initiated an investigation into "extremism" within the military. This move came after it was discovered that nearly twenty people charged with violence during the January 6 Capitol riots had ties to the military, either as current members or former personnel.

Hegseth's nomination has taken America's European allies by surprise. They were already preparing for a possible shift in the US stance on Ukraine, as Trump has indicated he plans to revamp the strategy put in place by outgoing President Joe Biden. Additionally, they anticipate a significant change in the US approach to NATO.

"This morning, I woke up in Vienna to some news and couldn't help but think: those whom the gods aim to ruin, they first drive to madness," remarked a former high-ranking Western military official closely connected with NATO.

According to his broadcasts, Hegseth's opinions on the conflict in Ukraine have changed over time. Just four days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, he mentioned that some conservatives and younger individuals believed the war was "significant, but it doesn't compare to the crime happening in my neighborhoods, the wokeness in my society, or the inflation impacting my finances." However, shortly after that, he took issue with Biden for not providing military support to Ukraine quickly enough.

In last week's podcast, he referred to the conflict as "Putin's war for getting his stuff back," highlighting the Kremlin's belief that Ukraine's national identity is just a brief distraction from its historical ties to Russia.

Hegseth boiled down Putin's stance to this: "We once had the Soviet Union, and we take pride in that. Ukraine was part of it, along with several other nations, and I want to reclaim what was ours."

He also accused Biden of being absent and allowing Putin to regain control over territory that was once part of the Soviet Union.

Hegseth did not reply to a request for his input.

The nomination has already triggered a strong reaction in the US, with individuals expressing their astonishment both privately and on social media that Trump would choose someone widely perceived to lack the credibility needed for a leadership role at the Pentagon.

Former officials from the Trump administration, who previously endorsed the president-elect's other selections for key national security positions, have also voiced their disappointment, with one referring to the decision as “crazy.”

It’s uncertain how Hegseth's perspective on the war will influence U.S. military strategy. However, General Lord Richard Dannatt, a former British army chief, cautioned that one significant challenge he faces is his “minimal military experience and lack of involvement in government.”

"The US Joint Chiefs of Staff will face a tough challenge in justifying ongoing support for Ukraine and NATO, but I believe we can expect that Hegseth will faithfully carry out Trump's wishes," Dannatt remarked.

Some voices were more straightforward in their criticism. "It's a complete circus," remarked John Foreman, who previously served as the UK's defense attaché in Moscow. "It seems like he's focused on battling internal conflicts within the Department of Defense and getting rid of those he considers adversaries."

However, the battles over cultural issues and a push to eliminate opponents have played a key role in Trump's rise to the presidency, allowing Hegseth to position himself within the president-elect’s close advisors. In his book, he presents himself as a renegade who chose not to extend his security clearance because he didn’t want to be part of the military any longer. Instead, he sees himself as an outsider on an essential mission to protect the military from progressive ideologies.

“I have completely lost faith in this military,” he expressed. “The so-called leaders managing the armed forces now are not only compromising standards and targeting the wrong adversaries, but they also think that power is negative, meritocracy is unjust, and that white people are a thing of the past.”