The fact that Trump‘s choice for the post of defense minister will be 44-year-old Pete Hegseth was not much expected, according to the American media. “National security officials and defense experts were bracing for a surprise after Trump’s experience in his first four years in office. Even with that assumption, however, they said they were completely taken aback by the selection of Fox News anchor and decorated veteran Pete Hegseth,” reports Politico.
Hegseth is one of the faces of the Fox & Friends morning showwhere in recent years he has often appeared in support of Trump’s positions.
Pete Hegseth (vpravo) s Donaldem Trumpem | Facebook, Instagram – P. Hegseth
Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan
He previously served as an Army infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a member of the National Guardin addition, he studied political science at Harvard. However, he has never served in elected office or in the Ministry of Defense, which covers nearly three million people.
“What the f*ck is that?” the arms lobbyist responded to the nominationwho was granted anonymity by Politico reporters to comment candidly on the development.
Some experts then reported that Trump apparently prioritized loyalty over experience. “I think Trump has had enough of falling out with his defense secretaries and has chosen one who will be loyal to him,” Marc Cancian, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the AP agency.
Pete Hegseth | Facebook, Instagram – P. Hegseth
He was considered before
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who has followed Trump for years, recently noted that the post of defense minister is one of the few that the incoming president really cares about.
According to WP, Trump is particularly focused on personnel issues surrounding the Pentagon and believes that in his first term he was hampered by civilian and military officials who were unwilling to comply with his demands to withdraw troops from abroad or deploy the army in the event of domestic unrest.
Hegseth was considered as a possible head of the department responsible for military veterans services during the first Trump administration, according to media reports. The host also urged Trump from his position in front of the camera and behind the scenes to intervene in defense of three soldiers on trial for war crimes. Trump then pardoned two and reversed the demotion of the third.
Pete Hegseth’s spouse Jenny | Facebook, Instagram – P. Hegseth
For years, Hegseth has criticized the military’s moves to promote diversity, including a 2015 decision to allow women to serve in combat roles. “The dumbest phrase on the planet in the military is that diversity is our strength,” he said on a podcast a few days ago.
List WP marks Hegseth as one of Trump’s most visible allieswho opposes inclusion in the military. His nomination raises questions about the future of senior officers, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Brown, according to the newspaper. Hegseth said in the aforementioned interview this month that the first step to improving the situation would be to fire Brown and that anyone else involved in inclusionary politics must also quit.
Senate approval required
Nominations to the head of the Pentagon, as well as the filling of other high government posts, are subject to approval by the Senate. There, after the New Year, Trump’s Republicans will have a 53-to-47 majority, but some commentators have suggested that confirming Hegseth could be difficult.
Democrats immediately questioned the qualifications of the proposed minister, while moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the announcement with “wow”. “I’m just saying wow… I’m just surprised,” Fox News quoted her as saying.
