6 days Ago By Luke Bodell
US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for his new secretary of defense has attracted criticism from his opponents and also surprised some of his allies. Pete Hegseth is a Fox News commentator and former Army National Guard Major who, with no senior military or political experience, critics claim is grossly unqualified for the position. Trump's defense secretary pick draws criticism According to a Reuters report, an unnamed senior Department of Defense (DoD) official said Hegseth is "not even qualified for a far less senior job," while another called him "the least qualified person" in the job's history.
The Department of Defense is the largest agency in the US government, and Hegseth will be in charge of a budget exceeding $800 billion, 1.3 million active-duty service members, and almost one million civilian military workers. Hegseth has also publicly supported Trump's promise to fire military leaders who have supported "woke" ideology, and is against the perceived politicization of the military.
Among the primary targets of his criticism include incumbent chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, whom Hegseth previously suggested earned his top position due to his skin color.
As reported by CNN , Hegseth said on a podcast just last week that "you’ve got to fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs," referring to Brown's support for progressive left-wing policies. The conservative commentator has held other controversial positions too, including being opposed to women in combat roles, and is an outspoken detractor of NATO. His appointment could also have ramifications for US assistance for Ukraine's war efforts against Russia, with Hesgeth publicly stating his opposition to President Biden's support.
Sexual assault allegation emerges With Trump announcing his pick just a few days ago, news has since emerged of a sexual assault investigation into Hegseth back in October 2017. The assault is said to have happened at a Hyatt Regency hotel where Hegseth was a speaker at a conference. His attorney has since confirmed that Hegseth reached a paid settlement with the accuser and that no charges were ever filed.
Trump decided on Hesgeth as his nominee on very short notice, giving his transition team insufficient time to conduct internal vetting. Within 48 hours of the announcement, Trump's team was notified of the dirt on their pick, and there has even been some talk of pulling the nomination. However, Trump's communications director Steven Cheung has since defended Hesgeth, stating, "We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can get started on Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again.
" With Donald Trump now preparing to take office for the second time, his administration may initiate some major changes in US military policy. This will most likely include a softening of support for Ukraine and the pursuit of a ceasefire. Changes in US military priorities, strategy, and culture could be on the way.
