Trump selects Fox News’ Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense in latest cabinet pick
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Donald Trump is expected to appoint Fox News personality and military veteran Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. This is the most recent in a series of announcements regarding the formation of the upcoming administration.
"Pete has dedicated his life to being a Defender for our Armed Forces and for our nation. He is resilient, intelligent, and genuinely committed to putting America first," the president-elect remarked in a statement on Tuesday. "With Pete leading the way, our adversaries should be aware—our military will be strong once more, and America will stand firm."
Hegseth, 44, previously worked as a banker at Bear Stearns before taking part in missions with the Army National Guard in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has also headed various organizations that advocate for veterans. He became a contributor at Fox News in 2014 and is currently one of the co-hosts of “Fox & Friends.”
While working at the network, Hegseth urged Trump to back American soldiers and contractors who faced accusations of war crimes. This included Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, as well as several Blackwater contractors alleged to have been involved in the killing of civilians in Baghdad.
During his broadcasts, Hegseth has voiced concerns about the United States allocating excessive resources to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He has also been a strong supporter of Israel. He has pointed out that both the establishment of Israel as a nation and the American Revolution against Britain symbolize the narrative of "God's chosen people."
The announcement of Hegseth, who requires confirmation from the Senate, received a variety of responses, including support, backlash, and uncertainty.
“Choosing Pete Hegseth is probably the most absurdly expected move Trump could make,” stated former Republican congressman and Trump opponent Adam Kinzinger on X.
Some Republican senators expressed surprise, with Louisiana's Senator Bill Cassidy reacting by asking, "Who?" when NBC News informed him about the decision.
According to Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Hegseth has a solid foundation from his time as a junior officer, but he lacks the high-level national security experience that is typically required for secretaries.” He added, “I believe Trump was weary of conflicts with his defense secretaries and chose someone who would be loyal to him.”
Trump often had disagreements with his former Secretaries of Defense. In 2018, James Mattis stepped down, citing differing opinions with the president on the importance of respecting allies and having a realistic perspective on U.S. adversaries. Similarly, in 2020, Trump dismissed Mark Esper because he would not support the deployment of active-duty military personnel against Black Lives Matter protesters.
Trump has expanded his list of preferences for his defense and intelligence cabinet, choosing former national intelligence director John Ratcliffe to head the CIA and Kristi Noem to oversee the Department of Homeland Security.
