On Tuesday night, President-elect Donald Trump surprised political analysts by selecting Pete Hegseth, a well-known Fox News figure, as his nominee for Secretary of Defense.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country,” Trump, 78, said in a statement. “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.”
Hegseth’s nomination is an unexpected move, especially considering the other potential candidates, including Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who gained military acclaim for her work with the Pentagon on defense issues; House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.); and Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic representative from Hawaii and Army National Guard member, like Hegseth.
Hegseth, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a fixture at Fox News since 2014, where he has co-hosted “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation and a best-selling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade,” a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement. “His insights and analysis especially about the military resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”
The 44-year-old had been in the running for the role of Secretary of Veterans Affairs after Trump’s victory in 2016, though the position was eventually filled by David Shulkin.
Before embarking on his military career, Hegseth graduated from Princeton University in 2003. A decade later, he earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Originally from Minnesota, Hegseth has been honored with two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals for his distinguished military service abroad.
{Matzav.com}