Who Is Pete Hegseth? What To Know About Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick.
by Siladitya Ray · ForbesTopline
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Fox News host and combat veteran Pete Hegseth—who has railed against “woke” leadership of the U.S. military—as his Defense Secretary on Tuesday night, marking one of Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks so far as critics raise concerns about his lack of experience and right-wing views.
Key Facts
Hegseth graduated from Princeton in 2003, after which he joined the Army National Guard and served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan—earning two Bronze Stars.
Hegseth claimed in his book he was sidelined by the Army for his political and religious views and added: “I didn't want this Army anymore either.”
Last week, Hegseth appeared on a podcast during which he said “woke” generals in the Pentagon needed to be fired and lashed out at diversity initiatives in the military: “The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is ‘our diversity is our strength.’”
During Trump’s first term, Hegseth played a key role in successfully lobbying for presidential pardons for U.S. military members facing prosecution for war crimes.
Hegseth began working for Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and is now co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend”—a show that Trump has called into regularly; he is also the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative organization bankrolled by prominent Republican donor and billionaire Charles Koch.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Hegseth defended Trump for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s moves “genius,” saying: “Vladimir Putin lives rent-free in the minds of our media... no entity has done more to spread Russian propaganda and to prop up the strongman that is Vladimir Putin than our very own media.”
How Did Republican Senators React To The Pick?
To become the Pentagon chief, Hegseth will need to be approved by the U.S. Senate. While Republicans have a comfortable majority in the Senate, some GOP leaders in the chamber reacted with surprise to the nomination. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told reporters: “Really? I’d have to think about it.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska said, “Wow…I'm just surprised because the names that I've heard for Secretary of Defense have not included him,” while Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., simply asked, “Who?” On Fox News, however, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz—who is a vocal Trump supporter—said he believed Hegseth’s nomination will be “easily confirmed” before adding: “I dare any Republican senator to vote against him. That is not in their best interest.”
Surprising Fact
During his appearance on Navy Seal veteran Shawn Ryan’s podcast last week, Hegseth claimed he had been vetted to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs during Trump’s first term, but was passed over for being a “little young” for the job.
Crucial Quote
While announcing Hegseth’s nomination to his cabinet, Trump praised the Fox News host, saying he had “spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice—Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.” The president-elect also mentioned Hegseth’s latest book “The War on Warriors” published earlier this year, claiming that it “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence.”
Chief Critics
“Pete Hegseth is wholly unqualified to head the Department of Defense and hold the lives of our Troops in his hands. Period. Nothing more need be said,” Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton—the chairman of the progressive VoteVets progressive political action committee said. Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Independent Veterans of America wrote on X: “Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political. Brace yourself, America.”
Further Reading
Trump’s Cabinet: Here Are His Picks For Key Roles—Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Pete Hegseth And More (Forbes)
‘Who the f—k is this guy?’: Defense world reacts to Trump’s surprise Pentagon pick (Politico)