Trump Nominates Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, Defying Expectations

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his choice for secretary of defense, a move that surprised many political observers.

Hegseth, a Fox News personality and former Army officer, has long been known for his outspoken conservative views, particularly on military matters.

In his statement, Trump praised Hegseth’s dedication to the military and the nation, calling him “a true believer in America First” and emphasising his lifelong commitment as “a Warrior for the Troops.” Trump underscored that under Hegseth’s leadership, “America’s enemies are on notice”, and the military would be “Great Again.”

Hegseth’s selection for the Pentagon’s top job is considered unorthodox.

He was chosen from a competitive field that included influential figures such as Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has earned respect in military circles for her work with the Pentagon, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who, like Hegseth, serves in the Army National Guard.

In his military career, Hegseth served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals for his service.

The 44-year-old Minnesota native joined Fox News in 2014 and became a popular figure, co-hosting Fox & Friends Weekend, a program known for its conservative solid audience.

Fox News released a statement expressing pride in Hegseth’s work over nearly a decade, noting his success as a bestselling author for Fox News Books and his popularity on-air. The network praised his insights on military issues, which resonated strongly with viewers and contributed to the show’s success.

This is not the first time Hegseth has been considered for a government role. He was on Trump’s radar in 2016 for the position of Veterans Affairs secretary, though the job ultimately went to David Shulkin. A Princeton graduate, Hegseth later earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2013.

Despite Hegseth’s strong military and media background, his nomination will require a congressional waiver. Congressional rules stipulate that a nominee for defense secretary must be out of active service for at least seven years. Past defense secretaries like Lloyd Austin and James Mattis also required waivers for confirmation due to their recent military service.

Hegseth is known for his conservative military views and is critical of what he calls a “woke military.” He previously led Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative advocacy group, and wrote The War on Warriors, a bestseller that criticizes the military’s focus on diversity and inclusion policies.

In his book, Hegseth argued that the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives were harming recruitment and turning away traditional patriotic demographics. He claimed these efforts failed to attract a sufficient number of new recruits, while discouraging others, particularly “young, patriotic, Christian men,” from joining the armed forces.

Trump echoed these concerns in his announcement, calling Hegseth’s book an “exposé” on what he described as the “leftwing betrayal of our warriors.”

Trump indicated his administration would aim to restore the military’s focus on “meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence.”

Hegseth’s nomination aligns with Trump’s frequent campaign critiques of a “woke military.” During his rallies, Trump promised to eliminate critical race theory and transgender policies from the armed forces, asserting that these issues were undermining the military’s effectiveness.

If confirmed, Hegseth will inherit a Pentagon that experienced considerable leadership turnover during Trump’s first term. Trump’s administration saw five different defense secretaries, beginning with James Mattis, who resigned over policy differences, and ending with Christopher C. Miller, who served as acting secretary following Trump’s dismissal of Mark Esper.

Esper, who succeeded Mattis, had clashed with Trump over various issues, including deploying troops during the Washington protests and renaming military bases named after Confederate leaders. His departure left the Pentagon without a Senate-confirmed leader for months, a record at the time.

Hegseth’s nomination reflects Trump’s commitment to reshaping the military in alignment with his “America First” principles and reining in policies he considers overly influenced by social issues. Hegseth’s confirmation would likely be regarded as a significant step toward restoring Trump’s vision of a “patriotic” and “merit-based” military.