President-elect Donald Trump nominated Fox News host and decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary, signaling a dramatic shift in Pentagon leadership and military strategy.
Daily Mail reported that Hegseth, 44, brings a combat-tested background to the role, having earned two Bronze Stars during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The former infantry captain’s nomination marks a significant departure from traditional defense secretary picks, as he transitions from Fox News studios to potentially commanding the world’s most powerful military.
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First,” Trump declared in his announcement, emphasizing Hegseth’s alignment with his military vision.Â
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”
Trump’s decision also bypassed former Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, who was widely considered a frontrunner for the role.
Hegseth’s nomination comes amid multiple global crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, Iranian proxy attacks in the Middle East, and escalating tensions involving Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah.
His recent commentary on Fox News highlighted his hawkish stance, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, where he predicted Israel would “bring Hell down on Hamas.”
Some national security experts express concerns about Hegseth’s qualifications.Â
Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted, “He has an excellent background as a junior officer but does not have the senior national security experience that secretaries need.”
The nomination reflects Trump’s determination to avoid the tumultuous relationships that characterized his first term when five different men held the defense secretary position.Â
“Trump was tired of fighting with his secretaries of defense and picked one who would be loyal to him,” Cancian observed, as reported by Daily Mail.
Fox News Media praised Hegseth’s contributions to the network, where he’s served since 2014 as a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” and authored “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”
The announcement came amid a flurry of other key appointments, including Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, Kristi Noem for Homeland Security and Steven Witkoff as Middle East envoy.
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