Trump Taps Fox News Host for Secretary of Defense
Defense community leaders are reacting with stunned shock after Donald Trump's appointment of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense. "Who the f*ck is this guy," said one defense industry lobbyist, adding that they had hoped for "someone who actually has an extensive background in defense. That would be a good start."
"Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political. Brace yourself, America," Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America said in a post Tuesday. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said in a post on X, "The job of Secretary of Defense should not be an entry-level position."
"I confess I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago," Smith said Tuesday. "And he certainly doesn’t seem to have any background whatsoever in DOD policy." Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger who is also a veteran said of the Trump pick, "Wow. Trump picking Pete Hegseth is the most hilariously predictably stupid thing."
Hegseth, who served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, has a history of bizarre and controversial statements. He has stated that veterans who use VA health benefits they have earned are dependent on the government and lack "personal integrity." He once claimed to have not washed his hands in 10 years because germs weren't real, because he couldn't see them.
Contrary to Trump's campaign promise to avoid wars and ensure peace through strength, Hegseth has made very hawkish statements on Iran and China, and once said there was merit to a preemptive strike on North Korea. He has repeatedly attacked so-called "wokeness" in the military, saying once on a podcast, "The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is 'our diversity is our strength.'"
"Any general that was involved, any general, admiral, whatever, that was involved in any of the DEI/woke sh*t has got to go," Hegseth said.
The appointment of Hegseth, with minimal defense or policy expertise, compromises national security and benefits the enemies of the United States, especially Vladimir Putin. Hegseth still has to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but given that Republicans in the Senate are tripping over themselves to prove loyalty to Donald Trump, in all likelihood Hegseth will be the next leader of the United States Military.
Despite Trump’s claim to have demanded a Russian de-escalation in Ukraine, Putin has only escalated his invasion following Trumps’ election, massing troops in Ukraine and launching more missile attacks. Now, Trump’s response is to appoint a Fox host to lead the U.S. military, in a clear signal to Putin that Trump intends to make a mockery of our armed forces, putting loyalty ahead of competence.
