Confusion mounts over Trump's defense secretary choice; Warren says the Senate must reject him

Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald on Nov 13, 2024

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In classic Trump fashion, the nation learned who is in line to lead the world’s largest military apparatus via social media.

Former mid-level Army officer and current Fox News host Pete Hegseth is the president-elect’s nominee for secretary of defense.

If you’ve never heard of Hegseth you aren’t alone, and President Donald Trump’s announcement was met with surprise and shock from both U.S. lawmakers and military commentators.

“Who?” Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said when he was asked by NBC News about the choice. “I don’t know Pete. I just don’t know anything about him.”

Hegseth, 44, is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

A former infantry platoon commander for the Minnesota National Guard, he deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but apparently never commanded anything larger than a platoon. He left the military at the rank of Major, the first field grade, and after being awarded a pair of bronze stars.

Since leaving the military, Hegseth has taken a leadership role at a pair of veterans organizations and has worked as a Sunday commentator on Fox News. He is the author of the bestseller “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”

Trump apparently considered Hegseth as a potential Veterans Affairs Secretary during his first administration, but backed off when he was informed Hegseth would never clear confirmation.

According to the next commander-in-chief, Hegseth is 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,” Trump wrote.

According to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Hegseth isn’t fit to lead the Pentagon or manage its about $800 billion annual budget.

“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,” she wrote in response to Trump’s pick.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a former Army Blackhawk pilot, said that it will be up to the Senate to prevent Trump’s pick from moving forward.

“In this moment, my Republican colleagues must recognize the danger that confirming a wholly unqualified Secretary of Defense nominee would put our country in, stop rolling over for Donald Trump and oppose this nomination,” she said in a statement.

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