Trump Designates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth as Defence Secretary Nominee

Donald Trump, the US President-elect, has designated Pete Hegseth, known as a Fox News host, author, and military veteran, as his selection for the position of defence secretary. At 44 years old, Hegseth, whose military service included tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, is set to oversee the globe’s most formidable military, marking his inaugural political appointment. Trump unveiled his decision on Tuesday, characterizing Hegseth as “tough, smart and a true believer in America First”. This announcement coincided with Trump’s revelation that another individual new to politics, billionaire Elon Musk, would assume a role focused on government cost reduction. The formation of Trump’s administration is progressing following his victory in the presidential election held last week. Hegseth’s nomination was part of a series of security-related appointments, which also featured Trump’s selection of John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Should the US Senate confirm his appointment, Hegseth would assume his duties at the Pentagon, facing critical decisions concerning matters like military aid for Israel amidst its operations in Gaza, and continued assistance for Ukraine as it confronts Russia’s invasion. Broadly, Trump advocates for the US to withdraw from foreign conflicts. Throughout his election campaign, he voiced criticism regarding the Biden administration’s spending on support for Kyiv. Furthermore, on Tuesday, Trump affirmed his desire for South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to undertake a prominent position as homeland security secretary. Michael Waltz, another military veteran, was selected by Trump to serve as national security adviser, a role that entails advising the president on external threats. According to sources who spoke to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, Senator Marco Rubio, known for sharing Waltz’s assertive stance on China, is anticipated to become Trump’s next secretary of state. However, this selection has not yet been finalized. Republicans have regained control of the Senate, which is the upper chamber of Congress, and are nearing a majority in the House, the lower chamber, as ballot tabulation proceeds. Certain government appointments, including Hegseth’s, necessitate a confirmation vote by senators; however, Trump, himself a Republican, has requested that the incoming leader of the US Senate allow him to circumvent this procedure. He possesses the authority to appoint individuals to other positions without Senate approval. On Wednesday, Senate Republicans are scheduled to elect a new leader. This day also marks the anticipated visit of Trump to the outgoing President, Joe Biden, at the White House, in observance of the customary transfer of power. Hegseth, an Ivy League alumnus born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has spent recent years as a conservative commentator. He resides in Tennessee with his wife and seven children. He has presented shows on Fox News, leveraging his platform to highlight matters pertaining to the military and veterans. His final day at Fox was Tuesday. US media outlets have reported that he successfully advocated to Trump during his initial presidency for the pardoning of servicemen who had been accused of war crimes. On Tuesday, in his declaration naming Hegseth as his choice for defence secretary, Trump emphasized the former soldier’s academic background at Princeton and Harvard universities, alongside his military service in Afghanistan and Iraq. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump stated in an online post. The president-elect additionally pointed out Hegseth’s contributions as a published author. He remarked that the book The War on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors, and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence”. Hegseth has consistently voiced strong opposition to policies he labels as “woke” within the US military and its command structure. On a podcast this month, Hegseth asserted, “The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength.” A potential responsibility for him as defence secretary involves implementing Trump’s campaign pledges to remove US generals whom Trump alleges are promoting progressive policies within the armed forces. Prior to being chosen by Trump, Hegseth was questioned on the same podcast regarding potential military reforms. He mentioned “first of all” dismissing the US’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen Charles “CQ” Brown Jr, stating that individuals engaged in diversity, equality, or inclusion policies “got to go”. In an episode of the Shawn Ryan Show released last week, Hegseth declared, “Either you’re in for war fighting and that’s it, that’s the only litmus test we care about.” Gen Brown, a former fighter pilot with leadership experience in the Pacific and Middle East, was appointed to the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President Joe Biden last year. During the same podcast, Hegseth further suggested that “whatever” combat standards existed in 1995, “let’s just make those the standards”. While several notable Republican figures have endorsed Hegseth’s selection, other responses have shown greater diversity. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis described the choice as “interesting” to the Associated Press, and Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville indicated he would “have to think” about his opinion on the appointment. Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, stated that Hegseth “has the grit” necessary to enact “real reform” at the Pentagon. Representative Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, commented that the role “should not be an entry-level position”. On X, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren asserted that Hegseth’s designation as defence secretary would “make us less safe and must be rejected”. She further remarked, “A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense.” Warren concluded, “I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our servicemembers.” North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher offers insights into the presidential race through his twice-weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. UK readers can subscribe here, while those outside the UK can subscribe here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available here.