President-elect Trump on Tuesday announced his selection of Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
Hegseth served as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard, serving tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and earning two Bronze Stars. He currently serves as co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First,” President Trump said in a statement. “With Pete in command, America's enemies will be on alert. Our military will be great again, and we will will never back down.”
The president-elect also used his statement to promote Hegseth's new book and work with veterans advocacy groups.
President Trump added, “No one fights harder for our troops. Pete will be a brave and patriotic defender of our nation's 'peace through strength' policy.”
Fox News confirmed to The Hill that Hegseth's contract with the network ended on Tuesday and that he will no longer host the popular morning show “Fox & Friends Weekend,” which he has hosted since 2017. Ta.
A spokesperson for the cable channel said, “Pete Hegseth has been the preeminent host of FOX & Friends and FOX Nation for nearly a decade, and the best-selling author of FOX Newsbooks. “His military insights and analysis deeply resonated with me.” He worked with the audience to make the show the huge success it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington. ”
Hegseth started as a Fox News contributor in 2014 and has since become one of the most prominent commentators on military issues and foreign policy.
He began co-hosting the weekend morning talk program regularly in late 2016 and was officially named to the role in January of the following year.
Hegseth is also instrumental in the network's push into streaming and live events, hosting the Fox Nation Patriot Awards, Hollywood's version of an awards show honoring first responders, military and law enforcement personnel, each year since 2019. did.
Mr. Trump's choice of Mr. Hegseth was somewhat unexpected, as his name was not known as a candidate.
The post requires Senate approval. Republicans are likely to win 53 seats, meaning Hegseth could afford to leave the party four times if he fails to win Democratic support.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was “surprised” by the selection.
“I'm just surprised. I'm not going to comment on whether that's good or bad or indifferent. I'm just surprised because he wasn't among the names of defense secretaries that I've heard about,” she said. said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) said he didn't know much about Hegseth.
“I don't know anything about him,” Cassidy said.
Chairman Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) praised the move Tuesday night, saying Hegseth is an “extremely qualified” candidate to shake up a Pentagon in need of reform.
“It's a great choice,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said shortly after the announcement. “I think he's a person who has the will to reform in areas that need reform, and he's a great fit.”
Democrats were less convinced. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he had “no idea” who Hegseth was until the announcement was made. And the lack of a visible presence within the defense community could be a sign of trouble ahead, he added.
“The lack of experience is a concern. So far we haven't heard what his plans are, so we'll see what his plans are. But it was a surprise,” he said. . “The Pentagon is- [it’s] The world's largest bureaucracy. It's hard to run. ”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham was among those visibly surprised by Hegseth's selection, reading Trump's statement on air just minutes after Trump's announcement.
“Wow, that's pretty cool,” said Ingraham, an avid Trump supporter. “We'll miss him at Fox, but it's a benefit to the country. It's unbelievable.”
On the campaign trail, the president-elect spoke about firing military leaders involved in the 2021 U.S. withdrawal that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers, and about eradicating what he and his allies describe as “woke” elements in Afghanistan. spoke often. A military focused on social justice and equity.
wall street journalreportedOn Tuesday evening, President Trump's transition team considered a draft executive order that would create a panel of military veterans to review three- and four-star generals for potential removal from their posts. It was announced that there is.
playing cardsscrutinizedy After suggesting in the final weeks of the presidential campaign that if he won, the military might be called in to quell unrest among his critics.
The Secretary of Defense proved to be one of the most volatile Cabinet positions during President Trump's first term. Jim MathisResigned after President Trump's remarksHe is withdrawing troops from Syria, and his successor, Mark Esper,He was fired days after the 2020 election.He has been criticizing Trump ever since.
Contributed by Al Weaver and Mike Lillis
Updated at 8:12pm EDT
