On Tuesday, November 12th, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he has selected Fox News Channel host Pete Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense. Trump praised Hegseth for his dedication to serving the military and the country, describing him as strong, intelligent, and a firm believer in America First.
Hegseth, a graduate of Princeton University with a graduate degree from Harvard University, served as an Army officer in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During his military service, he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and an Infantry Combat Badge.
Having been a Fox News host for eight years, Hegseth briefly ran for Senate in his home state of Minnesota in 2012 before withdrawing. Prior to joining Fox News as a contributor in 2014, he served as the CEO of a veteran advocacy organization.
His book “The War on Warriors,” published in June, spent nine weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, including two weeks at the top spot. According to Reuters, Hegseth has been critical of diversity issues within the military, having left the Army in 2021 because he felt he was no longer needed and labeled an extremist.
In his book, Hegseth wrote, “The feeling is mutual—I didn’t want to be in that Army anymore either.” He advocated for a thorough reform of the Pentagon’s senior leadership by the next US president to prepare for defending the nation and defeating enemies, suggesting many should be dismissed.
The Pentagon is reportedly anxious about Trump’s plans to dismiss officers and career civil servants he deems disloyal. During his re-election campaign, Trump strongly criticized the “woke culture” within the military and vowed to overhaul the Department of Defense by removing so-called “woke” generals.
“Woke culture” refers to a left-wing political movement in the United States since the 2010s concerning racial identity, LGBTQ rights, and feminist politics.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, November 13th, that Trump’s transition team is considering an executive order to establish a Warrior Commission comprised of retired senior officers. This commission would have the power to review three-star and four-star officers and make recommendations for removing individuals deemed unsuitable for leadership positions.