‘Who the f--k is this guy?’: Reaction from the defense community to Trump's unexpected Pentagon choice
One veterans' advocate stated, “Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history.”
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump's unexpected choice of conservative commentator and television host Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense stunned Washington, which had anticipated a nominee with a background in defense policy or a seasoned legislator.
National security officials and defense analysts, accustomed to surprises during Trump's first term, regarded the announcement of Hegseth— a Fox News host and decorated Army veteran— as particularly shocking.
“[Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty,” Eric Edelman, who was the Pentagon’s top policy official during the Bush administration, said in an interview. “It appears that one of the main criteria that’s being used is, how well do people defend Donald Trump on television?”
One industry lobbyist, speaking anonymously for candor, expressed disbelief: “Who the fuck is this guy?” They had hoped for “someone who actually has an extensive background in defense. That would be a good start.”
Concerns are mounting among Pentagon officials and defense analysts that Trump plans to appoint a loyalist who will unconditionally implement his directives. There are fears that his second term could usher in rapid, divisive changes, especially given his contentious history with previous defense secretaries.
Trump's return is likely to signal a reversal of many Biden administration policies. This could entail reinstating a ban on transgender service members, ending abortion travel policies, reigniting debates over bases named for Confederate figures, cutting diversity programs, and potentially using troops against civil unrest and political opponents.
During his first term, Trump sought to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Germany, a move the Pentagon struggled to finalize before his departure.
Hegseth's selection faced immediate backlash from veterans' organizations, notably from leaders who opposed him during debates over Veterans Affairs secretary candidates in Trump's first term. Hegseth has a background as the former executive director for Vets for Freedom and as the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a group seeking to privatize veterans' healthcare, financially backed by the Koch brothers.
“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, tweeted on X Tuesday night.
Rieckhoff had believed Hegseth was more suited for a role like chief of staff or press secretary, calling him “a highly effective and ferocious media, culture and political warrior for MAGA. And beyond loyal to and trusted by Trump.”
Another industry lobbyist commented, “Very Trump. I’m sure they vetted him.”
Throughout the first Trump administration, Hegseth was central in several instances where Trump intervened in military justice cases to grant clemency to troops convicted of war crimes.
The confirmation process for Hegseth is expected to be highly scrutinized, as he is a bold media figure experienced in discussing national security and cultural issues, who will face a Senate Armed Services Committee comprised of both supporters and detractors eager to voice their opinions on his nomination.
“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth stated on a podcast earlier this month.
Concerns persist that Trump may seek to purge senior generals or civil servants, further politicizing the Defense Department. Hegseth indicated his stance on military leadership when he expressed a desire to remove high-ranking officials associated with diversity and inclusion initiatives: “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Any general that was involved, any general, admiral, whatever, that was involved in any of the DEI/woke shit has got to go,” Hegseth stated during a podcast.
While appearing on Fox, Hegseth called for a fundamental change in U.S. military priorities, asserting that an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity undermines American defense capabilities. “These ideologies, political correctness, made their way into the ranks — and generals and leaders didn't stand up and say, 'No, we should only be focused on readiness and meritocracy and lethality,'” he remarked.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed surprise at the appointment. Sen. Mike Rounds, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated he would remain open-minded. "I'm not going to be negative right now, because I want to learn more about his background and his approach to this stuff. So he'll go through the regular process," he explained, adding, “It came as a surprise to me when they said that he was up for this. So I want to go back and look at his bio and ask him questions too.”
A Senate staffer suggested that Hegseth would likely navigate through Senate confirmation smoothly. The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, expressed reservations regarding Hegseth’s experience to manage the often complex Pentagon bureaucracy. "I confess I didn't know who he was until 20 minutes ago," Smith told reporters, noting that Hegseth appears to lack a solid background in DOD policy.
Smith also raised concerns about Hegseth's ability to engage with overseas allies as the U.S. manages various international challenges. “I see no evidence that this person has relationships whatsoever with our overseas partners,” he said. “How is he going to do when working on the various coalitions that we have?”
GOP Rep. Mike Waltz, a National Guard veteran who will serve as Trump’s national security adviser, expressed optimism about Hegseth’s leadership potential, asserting that “The Pentagon is in need of real reform, and they’re getting a leader who has the grit to make it happen.”
Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, served in the Army National Guard, completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and earning two Bronze Stars.
Max Bergmann, a former Obama administration official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, viewed the pick as surprising for lacking extensive defense policy experience at a time of increasing global tensions. “Shocking is sort of an understatement when it comes to that appointment for secretary of defense. This is why you want the Senate to carefully scrutinize nominations to ensure this person is in fact qualified,” Bergmann remarked.
“Wow. Trump picking Pete Hegseth is the most hilariously predictably stupid thing,” former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, posted on social media.
Phelim Kine contributed to this report.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
National security officials and defense analysts, accustomed to surprises during Trump's first term, regarded the announcement of Hegseth— a Fox News host and decorated Army veteran— as particularly shocking.
“[Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty,” Eric Edelman, who was the Pentagon’s top policy official during the Bush administration, said in an interview. “It appears that one of the main criteria that’s being used is, how well do people defend Donald Trump on television?”
One industry lobbyist, speaking anonymously for candor, expressed disbelief: “Who the fuck is this guy?” They had hoped for “someone who actually has an extensive background in defense. That would be a good start.”
Concerns are mounting among Pentagon officials and defense analysts that Trump plans to appoint a loyalist who will unconditionally implement his directives. There are fears that his second term could usher in rapid, divisive changes, especially given his contentious history with previous defense secretaries.
Trump's return is likely to signal a reversal of many Biden administration policies. This could entail reinstating a ban on transgender service members, ending abortion travel policies, reigniting debates over bases named for Confederate figures, cutting diversity programs, and potentially using troops against civil unrest and political opponents.
During his first term, Trump sought to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Germany, a move the Pentagon struggled to finalize before his departure.
Hegseth's selection faced immediate backlash from veterans' organizations, notably from leaders who opposed him during debates over Veterans Affairs secretary candidates in Trump's first term. Hegseth has a background as the former executive director for Vets for Freedom and as the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a group seeking to privatize veterans' healthcare, financially backed by the Koch brothers.
“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, tweeted on X Tuesday night.
Rieckhoff had believed Hegseth was more suited for a role like chief of staff or press secretary, calling him “a highly effective and ferocious media, culture and political warrior for MAGA. And beyond loyal to and trusted by Trump.”
Another industry lobbyist commented, “Very Trump. I’m sure they vetted him.”
Throughout the first Trump administration, Hegseth was central in several instances where Trump intervened in military justice cases to grant clemency to troops convicted of war crimes.
The confirmation process for Hegseth is expected to be highly scrutinized, as he is a bold media figure experienced in discussing national security and cultural issues, who will face a Senate Armed Services Committee comprised of both supporters and detractors eager to voice their opinions on his nomination.
“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth stated on a podcast earlier this month.
Concerns persist that Trump may seek to purge senior generals or civil servants, further politicizing the Defense Department. Hegseth indicated his stance on military leadership when he expressed a desire to remove high-ranking officials associated with diversity and inclusion initiatives: “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Any general that was involved, any general, admiral, whatever, that was involved in any of the DEI/woke shit has got to go,” Hegseth stated during a podcast.
While appearing on Fox, Hegseth called for a fundamental change in U.S. military priorities, asserting that an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity undermines American defense capabilities. “These ideologies, political correctness, made their way into the ranks — and generals and leaders didn't stand up and say, 'No, we should only be focused on readiness and meritocracy and lethality,'” he remarked.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed surprise at the appointment. Sen. Mike Rounds, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated he would remain open-minded. "I'm not going to be negative right now, because I want to learn more about his background and his approach to this stuff. So he'll go through the regular process," he explained, adding, “It came as a surprise to me when they said that he was up for this. So I want to go back and look at his bio and ask him questions too.”
A Senate staffer suggested that Hegseth would likely navigate through Senate confirmation smoothly. The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, expressed reservations regarding Hegseth’s experience to manage the often complex Pentagon bureaucracy. "I confess I didn't know who he was until 20 minutes ago," Smith told reporters, noting that Hegseth appears to lack a solid background in DOD policy.
Smith also raised concerns about Hegseth's ability to engage with overseas allies as the U.S. manages various international challenges. “I see no evidence that this person has relationships whatsoever with our overseas partners,” he said. “How is he going to do when working on the various coalitions that we have?”
GOP Rep. Mike Waltz, a National Guard veteran who will serve as Trump’s national security adviser, expressed optimism about Hegseth’s leadership potential, asserting that “The Pentagon is in need of real reform, and they’re getting a leader who has the grit to make it happen.”
Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, served in the Army National Guard, completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and earning two Bronze Stars.
Max Bergmann, a former Obama administration official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, viewed the pick as surprising for lacking extensive defense policy experience at a time of increasing global tensions. “Shocking is sort of an understatement when it comes to that appointment for secretary of defense. This is why you want the Senate to carefully scrutinize nominations to ensure this person is in fact qualified,” Bergmann remarked.
“Wow. Trump picking Pete Hegseth is the most hilariously predictably stupid thing,” former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, posted on social media.
Phelim Kine contributed to this report.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
