President-elect Donald Trump surprised the U.S. defense and political community by announcing the nomination of Pete Hegseth, a figure widely known for his role as a host on Fox News, for the position of Secretary of Defense.
The selection of Hegseth, a military veteran without prior experience in high-level positions at the Pentagon, places a media personality in a key cabinet role for the second term of the Republican president.
The nomination has generated mixed opinions and widespread reactions, particularly due to Hegseth's lack of experience in global defense policy.
“Pete is tough, intelligent, and a true believer in the principle of 'America First.' With Pete in charge, America's enemies are warned: our armed forces will be great again, and the United States will never surrender,” Trump stated in a message highlighting Hegseth's character and loyalty.
Military Background and Career in the Media
Hegseth is a former military serviceman who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and has maintained a close relationship with Trump for several years, acting as an informal advisor to the president on defense matters.
Although he was considered for several positions during the Republican's first term, he was not selected for any of them.
His combat experience has been cited by some as an advantage, although others have pointed out his limited preparation in the area of defense policy formulation and implementation.
Since 2014, Hegseth has been a contributor to Fox News, and in 2017, he became a co-host of the program "Fox & Friends Weekend."
Fox News issued a statement expressing its gratitude to the now former contributor, stating: "His ideas and analysis, particularly regarding the military, resonated deeply with our viewers and transformed the program into the great success it is today."
The network added that it was "extremely proud of her work at Fox News Media and wished her the best of luck in Washington."
Hegseth also has notable academic credentials, having studied at Princeton and Harvard.
He also served as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a veteran advocacy organization.
In 2017, he published a book titled In the Arena, in which he expressed his views on politics and defense.
Reactions from the Pentagon and the Defense Community
Hegseth's nomination surprised many within the Pentagon, where his name had not been mentioned among the possible candidates.
A senior defense official commented to CNN, "Everyone is simply shocked."
Another official pointed out that just hours before the announcement, he learned about the possibility of Hegseth being nominated, and many of them did not know how to react.
Trump's relationship with the Pentagon leadership during his first term was tense, and Hegseth's selection is seen as an attempt to install a leader in the Department of Defense who shares his vision and unwavering loyalty.
Trump had notable disputes with his two previous Secretaries of Defense.
General James Mattis resigned in 2018 in protest of Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria without a clear strategy. Similarly, Mark Esper, the second Defense Secretary confirmed by Trump, was dismissed in 2020 and has since publicly expressed his concerns about the elected president's leadership on national security matters.
Some Republicans in Congress have expressed reservations about Hegseth's nomination.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina described the election as "interesting," while Senator Todd Young of Indiana, a former Marine, noted that he didn't know much about Hegseth's vision but was open to learning more about his background.
Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota was among the few who openly supported the nomination, stating that Hegseth is “tremendously capable and a great communicator.”
The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, also expressed his support for the candidate, stating that Hegseth would bring a "reformist mindset in the areas that need it."
Controversies and Conservative Positions
Throughout his career in the media, Hegseth has been known for his support of conservative policies and his stance against what he and Trump consider "progressive ideas" in the military sector.
He has been critical of equity and inclusion programs in the armed forces and has questioned the role of women in combat, arguing that gender diversity could complicate combat situations and lead to higher casualties.
In the podcast "The Shawn Ryan Show," Hegseth remarked that "the complication in combat means that casualties are worse," and added that diversity in the military is a strength only insofar as "men from minorities and whites can perform similarly," something he believes does not apply in the case of women.
In addition, Hegseth has publicly advocated for the pardon of military personnel accused of war crimes.
In 2019, he urged Trump to pardon military personnel accused of questionable acts on the battlefield, a decision that Trump implemented, even restoring the rank of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher.
That measure was highly controversial and was criticized by Pentagon leaders and senior officials, who noted that presidential pardons could undermine the integrity of the military judicial system.
If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Hegseth will face numerous challenges. The Department of Defense operates with a budget of over $800 billion and has approximately 1.3 million active-duty soldiers, along with the National Guard, reserves, and civilian personnel worldwide.
His responsibilities will include managing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea, and the increasingly intense competition with China.
Additionally, modernizing the United States' missile defense and nuclear apparatus will be a priority on the defense agenda.
Representative Adam Smith, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, voiced his concerns: "There are reasons to worry that this is not someone serious enough in policy formulation or policy implementation to do the job successfully."
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