U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran, as his secretary of defense.
Kolkata: US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Pete Hegseth, a military veteran, author, and Fox News host, as his choice for defense secretary. Hegseth, 44, who has served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, will take charge of the globe’s strongest military in his initial political position.
Trump, in his Tuesday announcement, lauded Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran who, as stated on his website, has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
“Pete is strong, intelligent, and a genuine supporter of America First,” Trump stated in a statement. “Under Pete’s leadership, America’s foes are warned – Our Military will be Strong Again, and America will Never Retreat.”
The announcement surfaced on the same day Trump revealed that political newcomer, billionaire Elon Musk, would assume a position focused on reducing government expenses.
Hegseth has shown disdain for the “woke” policies of Pentagon officials, has opposed women in combat positions, and has questioned whether the highest American general holds his role due to his skin colour.
If approved by the U.S. Senate, Hegseth could fulfil Trump’s campaign pledges to eliminate generals from the U.S. military whom he blames for advocating progressive diversity policies that conservatives oppose.
It might also create a conflict between Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, a former fighter pilot experienced in command roles in the Pacific and the Middle East, whom Hegseth claimed was “following the extreme views of leftist politicians.”
Hegseth, with minimal management experience, will oversee 1.3 million active-duty service members and almost 1 million civilians employed by the military.
The 44-year-old critic of NATO is arguably Trump’s most unexpected choice as he assembles his cabinet before the Jan. 20 inauguration, and the move elicited rapid disapproval from various Trump adversaries.
“The position of Secretary of Defense ought not to be an entry-level role,” Representative Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, wrote on X.
His choice also surprised many in the Pentagon, where authorities privately wondered what made him suitable for the role.
A high-ranking official in the Defense Department, who requested to remain unnamed, stated that Hegseth is not even fit for a significantly less senior position.
About Pete Hegseth
Hegseth’s latest position was as a host on the Fox and Friends morning program. That’s where a majority of America recognizes him, but he is also a writer, spouse, and father, and even gained viral notoriety – although it has gotten him into legal trouble.
Hegseth is a military veteran as well, achieving the rank of major in the Army during his service with the Minnesota National Guard. He fought in the Iraq War as well as the War in Afghanistan. He received many medals. Following his departure from the military, he took on the role of executive director for the political organizations Vets for Freedom and Concerned Vets for America, while also appearing on television as a political analyst.
In addition to obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, Hegseth earned a Master’s in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
He was employed at the doomed investment bank Bear Stearns after graduating before departing to join the military. Hegseth served with the Minnesota Army National Guard as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq and as a captain in Afghanistan. During his ten-year military career, he received two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
Hegseth has subsequently shared more about his military experience, having even penned a letter to his sons encouraging them to consider serving in the armed forces if they desire, which is included in his book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.
“Despite those inquiries — and despite all the unpredictability — I expect you to become part of the American fighting forces.” I urge you to take action, pondering this straightforward question: If not me, then who? “If it’s not Gunner, Jackson, Boone, Luke, or Rex Hegseth—who will safeguard America?” he stated in the letter. “Will you depend on other men or on women with differing perspectives to fill the positions?” Just because our military is not flawless, can we allow ourselves to lose her? “My response is negative.”
He is a host on Fox and an author of books
Hegseth began working at Fox in 2014 after network chief Roger Ailes brought him on as a contributor. In addition to co-hosting Fox & Friends, Hegseth also co-hosted Fox’s New Year’s Eve special All-American New Year alongside political commentator Lisa Kennedy Montgomery. He has hosted several shows on FOX Nation, such as Battle in the Holy Land, focused on the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Throughout his time on air, Hegseth has expressed his frank opinions on American policies, arguing that the US is allocating excessive funds to support Ukraine in its battle against Russia. He has also been a vocal supporter of Israel. In a 2016 interview with The Jewish Press, he proposed that the establishment of Israel as a nation-state and the American revolution against Great Britain exemplify “the narrative of God’s selected people.”
He has authored multiple books for Fox’s publishing house, including The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, which focuses on his experiences in the military. He likewise expressed his honest opinions on the nation’s education system in Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation, and showcased a compilation of narratives from veterans in Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes.
His incident with axe-throwing gained widespread popularity
In a 2015 segment of Fox and Friends, Hegseth took part in a mishap involving an axe-throwing activity. In clips posted on social media, he was seen hurling an axe at a massive red target. Nevertheless, he ultimately fell short, as the axe flew past its target and struck drummer Jeffrey Prosperie from West Point’s Hellcats field band in the arm. Prosperie was struck during his performance, as his musical ensemble had been invited to the event to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army.
Despite Prosperie initiating a lawsuit against Hegseth following the incident, it was dropped in 2019. “The issue has been settled by the parties, and no additional comments will be made,” stated Prosperie’s lawyer, Brandon Cotter, to the Associated Press.
