President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, to be his Secretary of Defense. Hegseth’s appointment was unexpected, as Trump’s team hadn’t initially considered him for the role, according to sources who spoke with CNN. Sources say Trump has a long-standing connection with Hegseth and admires his intelligence, military service, and the way he describes his experiences in his book. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, to be his Secretary of Defense. Hegseth’s appointment was unexpected, as Trump’s team hadn’t initially considered him for the role, according to sources. Trump admires Hegseth’s intelligence, military service, and the way he describes his experiences in his book.
Although Hegseth wasn’t on the original shortlist, Trump was having trouble deciding and recalled liking Hegseth from his previous term. Trump had once thought about appointing him to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs but was advised that the Senate might not confirm him.
Many people close to Trump were caught off guard by this decision. Trump’s pick of Hegseth marks a shift from his previous defense secretaries, like General James Mattis and Army Secretary Mark Esper, with whom he later had disagreements.
One Pentagon official expressed surprise to CNN, while another source close to the defense department said they were unaware of Hegseth’s consideration until shortly before the announcement. Even some former Trump officials were stunned by the choice and expected pushback against the nomination.
Hegseth’s nomination could lead to a difficult Senate confirmation. With Republicans holding a slim majority, Trump’s nominees can’t afford to lose much Republican support. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski reacted with surprise, while Indiana Senator Todd Young, who has at times criticized Trump, said he wanted to learn more about Hegseth’s background.
Trump, in his statement, commended Hegseth’s military record, career at Fox News, and bestselling book, calling him a “Warrior for the Troops” who will help make America’s military “Great Again.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Fox News called Mr. Hegseth “an exceptional host on ‘Fox & Friends’ and ‘Fox Nation’ and a best-selling author for Fox News Books for nearly a decade.”
“His insights and analysis, especially about the military, resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today,” the statement said.
Here are a few key points about Hegseth:
- He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, according to Fox.
- Mr. Hegseth is a co-host of Fox & Friends.
- Joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014.
- Has hosted Fox’s New Year’s Eve coverage for several years.
- He served in the Army in Afghanistan, Iraq, and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
- A Minnesota native, Mr. Hegseth graduated from Princeton University.
- Was the publisher of The Princeton Tory, a conservative magazine.
- Wrote about witnessing the statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled in Baghdad in 2003.
- Mr. Hegseth’s book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, became a New York Times best-seller and was published in June.