The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, surprised the Pentagon and the defense world in general by nominating Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his next Secretary of Defense, which would assign someone with little experience and who does not He has worked on the global stage to lead the largest and most powerful military in the world.
The news was met with bewilderment and concern by many in Washington, as Trump sidelined several prestigious national security experts and chose an Army National Guard captain, well known in conservative circles as co-host of the “Fox show.” & Friends Weekend” on Fox News Channel.
While some Republican lawmakers responded cautiously to the announcement, others described his combat experience as an asset or said he was “tremendously capable.”
Hegseth’s election could bring sweeping changes to the military, as he has made clear on his show and in interviews that, like Trump, he strongly opposes progressive programs that promote equality and inclusion. She has also questioned the role of women in combat and advocated for pardoning soldiers accused of war crimes.
In June, at a rally in Las Vegas, Trump encouraged his supporters to buy Hegseth’s book after promising that if he won, progressive and inclusion measures “will disappear within a 24-hour period. I can tell you that.”
Hegseth, 44, is a staunch conservative who embraces Trump’s “America First” policies, and has pushed to make the military more lethal. During an interview on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast, she said allowing women to serve in combat hurts that effort.
“Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complications in combat, that means casualties are worse,” Hegseth said.
And while he said diversity in the military is a strength, he noted it was because white and minority men “can perform similarly,” but that was not the case for women.
While Trump praised Hegseth as “tough, smart and a true believer in ‘America First,’” others were quick to point out the host’s lack of experience, with some suggesting he could serve as Pentagon chief only in appearance, while the Trump White House runs the department.
Other names being considered as possible defense officials included Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Robert Wilkie, a former Pentagon official who led veterans affairs in Trump’s first term.
“There is reason to be concerned that this is not a person who is serious enough to lay out measures, serious enough to implement measures, to do a successful job,” said Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Committee. House Armed Services.
Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Hegseth’s lack of high-level national security experience makes it more difficult to obtain Senate confirmation for his appointment.
“I think Trump was tired of fighting with his defense secretaries and chose one who would be loyal to him,” Cancian said.
Military officials said the election came out of nowhere. A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Hegseth’s selection had raised concerns about whether he has the practical experience to run a large department with a huge budget.
The Department of Defense has a budget exceeding $800 billion, with approximately 1.3 million soldiers on active duty and another 1.4 million in the National Guard, reserves and civilian employees spread around the world.
If confirmed, Hegseth would face a daunting series of global crises, from wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and the strengthening of the alliance between Russia and North Korea to the growing competition with China.
There is also the need to upgrade America’s complex nuclear and missile defense apparatus and ensure the defense industry can keep up with America’s need for weapons systems.
Smith said that while Hegseth’s combat experience is a point in his favor, running the Pentagon requires many other skills, and considering his nomination will take some time.
“What is your plan? What are you going to do? (…) How can you make sure that that lack of experience, you know, is not going to make it impossible for you to do the job?” Smith said. “I think those are questions that need to be answered in the coming months.”
Even some Republicans in the Senate — who would have to vote on his candidacy — responded cautiously.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis described the election as “interesting,” and Indiana Senator Todd Young, who served as a Marine, said, “I don’t know much about his background or his vision, so I hope to learn more.” .
North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven said he was not surprised Trump chose Hegseth because Trump is “close to him and likes and trusts him.”
“The guy is obviously tremendously capable, a great communicator,” Hoeven said. “I hope to get to know you better.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Hegseth brings a lot to the table and will be “a reformer in areas that need reform.”
Hegseth has been a Fox News contributor since 2014 and has become friends with Trump, who made frequent appearances on his show. He is the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are warned: Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Go Back,” Trump said in a statement. “No one fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a brave and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace Through Strength’ policy.”
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram!
Add Comment