Trump appoints veteran and Fox personality Hegseth as Defense Secretary
“Trump described Pete as tough, smart, and a true believer in America First."
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Pete Hegseth as his Pentagon chief, a surprising decision that places the Fox News host and Army veteran at the forefront of the new administration’s initiative to eliminate diversity and inclusion policies within the Defense Department.
Hegseth’s selection came amid speculation that Trump might opt for a more established figure in defense, such as House Armed Services Chair Rep. Mike Rogers or another defense-centric lawmaker.
“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,” Trump stated in a Tuesday night announcement regarding Hegseth's appointment.
This choice marks a shift from the national security appointments Trump has made since his election last week. He has already selected Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser and is expected to name Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of State, both of whom have conventional views on American military and diplomatic strength globally.
In contrast, Hegseth stands out as a relative outsider, lacking Pentagon or significant government experience outside of his military background.
Trump noted that Hegseth’s recent book “The War on Our Warriors” influenced his decision. “The book reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence,” he added.
At 44 years old, Hegseth was an early supporter of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, a time when prominent GOP figures, including Sen. Marco Rubio, were critical of Trump. A decorated Army combat veteran, Hegseth has served as a Fox News host for the past eight years and was previously considered for the role of Veterans Affairs secretary before Trump appointed David Shulkin in 2017.
Should he be confirmed, Hegseth would lead a defense establishment stretched thin by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Meanwhile, many GOP lawmakers and former Trump officials are urging an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, likely a top priority for the incoming administration.
Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, is known for his previous role as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, an organization promoting the outsourcing of veterans' healthcare, which has connections to the Koch brothers. His ties to this group raised concerns among veteran organizations when he was considered for the Veterans Affairs secretary position during Trump’s first term.
As a major in the Minnesota National Guard in 2021, Hegseth was in Washington for security at the Biden inauguration, but his orders were rescinded due to a tattoo associated with white nationalist groups. He has denied having any affiliations with such groups.
During Trump’s first term, Hegseth played a critical role in several instances where Trump intervened in military justice, granting clemency to troops convicted of war crimes.
He garnered Trump’s attention regarding a military case that led, in 2019, to full pardons for former Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance and Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, both convicted of war crimes. Additionally, Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, who had faced murder charges, had his promotion reinstated.
Tim Parlatore, Gallagher's attorney, credited Fox News and Hegseth for bringing attention to the case. “Whether or not people believe Fox News, the president took the time to listen to another perspective rather than solely relying on the Navy's view,” Parlatore remarked.
Hegseth’s perspectives on these cases are likely to attract scrutiny from lawmakers. At the time, Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed criticized the pardons as a "serious disservice" to military personnel.
"The president has the power to pardon, but he has the responsibility to use that power wisely, not recklessly," Reed stated during a committee hearing.
"Some have claimed that these cases were a distraction and that the president’s intervention has somehow improved the morale of the military," he continued. "On the contrary, President Trump's disregard for our military justice system risked undermining the confidence of our service members and the rule of law and their chain of command, especially those who are courageous enough to bring allegations of war crimes to light and testify against their teammates."
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, expressed support for Hegseth’s appointment on Tuesday, calling it a “great choice.”
“The president [is putting] together a strong Cabinet. Pete brings a lot to the table,” Johnson told reporters. “He's got experience, and I think he'll be reform-minded in the areas that need reform. So, I'm excited about the pick.”
Contributions to this report were made by Paul McLeary, Robbie Gramer, and Connor O’Brien.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hegseth’s selection came amid speculation that Trump might opt for a more established figure in defense, such as House Armed Services Chair Rep. Mike Rogers or another defense-centric lawmaker.
“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,” Trump stated in a Tuesday night announcement regarding Hegseth's appointment.
This choice marks a shift from the national security appointments Trump has made since his election last week. He has already selected Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser and is expected to name Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of State, both of whom have conventional views on American military and diplomatic strength globally.
In contrast, Hegseth stands out as a relative outsider, lacking Pentagon or significant government experience outside of his military background.
Trump noted that Hegseth’s recent book “The War on Our Warriors” influenced his decision. “The book reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence,” he added.
At 44 years old, Hegseth was an early supporter of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, a time when prominent GOP figures, including Sen. Marco Rubio, were critical of Trump. A decorated Army combat veteran, Hegseth has served as a Fox News host for the past eight years and was previously considered for the role of Veterans Affairs secretary before Trump appointed David Shulkin in 2017.
Should he be confirmed, Hegseth would lead a defense establishment stretched thin by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Meanwhile, many GOP lawmakers and former Trump officials are urging an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, likely a top priority for the incoming administration.
Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, is known for his previous role as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, an organization promoting the outsourcing of veterans' healthcare, which has connections to the Koch brothers. His ties to this group raised concerns among veteran organizations when he was considered for the Veterans Affairs secretary position during Trump’s first term.
As a major in the Minnesota National Guard in 2021, Hegseth was in Washington for security at the Biden inauguration, but his orders were rescinded due to a tattoo associated with white nationalist groups. He has denied having any affiliations with such groups.
During Trump’s first term, Hegseth played a critical role in several instances where Trump intervened in military justice, granting clemency to troops convicted of war crimes.
He garnered Trump’s attention regarding a military case that led, in 2019, to full pardons for former Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance and Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, both convicted of war crimes. Additionally, Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, who had faced murder charges, had his promotion reinstated.
Tim Parlatore, Gallagher's attorney, credited Fox News and Hegseth for bringing attention to the case. “Whether or not people believe Fox News, the president took the time to listen to another perspective rather than solely relying on the Navy's view,” Parlatore remarked.
Hegseth’s perspectives on these cases are likely to attract scrutiny from lawmakers. At the time, Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed criticized the pardons as a "serious disservice" to military personnel.
"The president has the power to pardon, but he has the responsibility to use that power wisely, not recklessly," Reed stated during a committee hearing.
"Some have claimed that these cases were a distraction and that the president’s intervention has somehow improved the morale of the military," he continued. "On the contrary, President Trump's disregard for our military justice system risked undermining the confidence of our service members and the rule of law and their chain of command, especially those who are courageous enough to bring allegations of war crimes to light and testify against their teammates."
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, expressed support for Hegseth’s appointment on Tuesday, calling it a “great choice.”
“The president [is putting] together a strong Cabinet. Pete brings a lot to the table,” Johnson told reporters. “He's got experience, and I think he'll be reform-minded in the areas that need reform. So, I'm excited about the pick.”
Contributions to this report were made by Paul McLeary, Robbie Gramer, and Connor O’Brien.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
