President-elect Donald Trump has announced his choice for the head of the Department of Defense: Fox News host Pete Hegseth.
Here’s your new Secretary of Defense Patriot Pete Hegseth vs your old Secretary of Defense pic.twitter.com/lymg6JTxV7
— The Typical Liberal #1 In Exposing Liberal Lies (@the_typical_lib) November 13, 2024
Hegseth, who co-hosts Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has worked as a Fox News contributor since 2014, is also an Army National Guard veteran. He served as an infantry Captain in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay. Hegseth also has two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also a New York Times best-selling author of the book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” and previously served as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America.
🚨 Meet Pete Hegseth, your new Secretary of Defense:
“The Pentagon runs perfect war game simulations, we lose every time to China… They’re building an army…We have our heads up our asses.”
Pete is an old school American first warrior. pic.twitter.com/KpWXE6dCjQ
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 13, 2024
Trump announced Hegseth as his Defense Secretary in a statement posted on social media.
“I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense,” Trump said in the statement. “Pete has 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.”
“Pete is a graduate of Princeton University, and has a Graduate Degree from Harvard University,” the statement continued. “He is an Army Combat Veteran who did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his actions on the battlefield, he was decorated with two Bronze Stars, as well as a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.”
Trump went on to highlight Hegseth’s use of Fox News to advocate for military members and veterans, and pointed to his other work advocating for veterans.
“Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our Military and Veterans,” he wrote. “Pete’s recent book, ‘The War on Warriors,’ spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at NUMBER ONE. The book reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence. Pete has also led two Veterans Advocacy organizations, leading the fight for our Warriors, and our great Veterans. Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”
🚨 BREAKING: President-elect Trump chooses Pete Hegseth for SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country.” pic.twitter.com/GZ3CwbSv20
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 13, 2024
The nomination prompted outrage from the left, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who claimed that a “Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense” — purposefully ignoring the fact that he is a decorated veteran, which led to backlash.
A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense.
I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our servicemembers.
Donald Trump’s pick will make us less safe and must be rejected. https://t.co/6ADUJSm8x6
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 13, 2024
“Characterizing him as simply a Fox News host is a despicable lie of omission. This bulls—t is why your party was wiped out in the election. Are you all not capable of learning anything, or do you plan to just keep imploding?” one user responded.
You left out that Hegseth is twice a bronze star recipient, served 20 years in the military including Iraq and Afghanistan, is a veterans’ advocate, and is Ivy League educated.
Characterizing him as simply a Fox News host is a despicable lie of omission.
This bullshit is why…
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) November 13, 2024
“By framing veteran and double bronze-star recipient Pete Hegseth as ‘weekend co-host,’ you prove you don’t respect everyone one of our servicemembers,” replied The Federalist’s senior legal correspondent, Margot Cleveland.
By framing veteran and double bronze-star recipient Pete Hegseth as "weekend co-host," you prove you don't respect everyone one of our servicemembers.
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) November 13, 2024
Meanwhile, conservatives praised Trump for the nomination, pointing out that Hegseth is a fresh face compared to the past defense secretaries who have a penchant for pushing woke ideology and previously worked for the Military Industrial Complex.
“I mean, sure Peter Hegseth is an Ivy Leaguer with multiple tours who spent over 20 years in military service before becoming a veteran’s advocate. But he didn’t work for Raytheon and hire drag queens for recruitment. So is he really qualified?” Red State’s Bonchie quipped.
I mean, sure Peter Hegseth is an Ivy Leaguer with multiple tours who spent over 20 years in military service before becoming a veteran's advocate.
But he didn't work for Raytheon and hire drag queens for recruitment. So is he really qualified?
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) November 13, 2024
