The selection of Pete Hegseth, a prominent Fox News Channel host, as a potential Secretary of Defense by President-elect Donald Trump has sparked considerable discussion. Hegseth, a military veteran and a well-known conservative media figure with a substantial following, was reportedly considered for a position in Trump’s administration previously. His close relationship with Trump and his advocacy for pardoning service members accused of war crimes have placed him in the spotlight for this high-profile role.
WATCH: How Hegseth could reshape the Defense Department under Trump
To understand the implications of such a nomination, it’s crucial to delve into Pete Hegseth’s background, views, and experiences. Here are key aspects to consider regarding his potential leadership at the Department of Defense.
Hegseth’s Call for a Pentagon “Clean House”
In his recent book, Hegseth voices strong criticisms against what he perceives as “woke” generals and leaders within elite military academies. He argues that their emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion has dangerously weakened the military, making it “effeminate.” Hegseth contends that rank-and-file soldiers are being undermined by “feckless civilian leaders and foolish brass,” asserting that the incoming commander in chief needs to “clean house.”
His rhetoric extends to transgender service members, whom he mocks and misgenders, claiming their inclusion is detrimental to recruitment. “America’s white sons and daughters are walking away, and who can blame them,” he writes in “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.” This statement reflects a sentiment similar to Trump’s, embracing a traditional view of masculinity where men are inherently inclined to fight and demonstrate their strength.
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host, is seen discussing military matters on Fox & Friends, highlighting his media presence and commentary on defense related topics.Hegseth is also sharply critical of NATO allies, echoing Trump’s stance that they are not contributing sufficiently to their own defense. He labels them “self-righteous and impotent nations” that rely excessively on outdated defense arrangements. Furthermore, he characterizes the political left as “America’s domestic enemies” and “America-wreckers,” indicating a highly polarized worldview.
His writings show a disdain for policies, laws, and treaties that impose restrictions on military actions, from rules of engagement to the Geneva Conventions. He suggests these are obsolete when facing enemies who do not adhere to such conventions. Hegseth appears to have little regard for the ethical complexities of warfare. In a stark example, regarding the atomic bombings of Japan in World War II, he dismissively states, “They won. Who cares.”
Adding to his reform proposals, Hegseth advocates for renaming the Department of Defense back to its original title, the War Department, and imposing a 10-year ban on generals transitioning to roles with defense contractors post-retirement.
The Viral Ax Incident
A notable and widely circulated incident involving Hegseth occurred in 2015 when he accidentally struck a U.S. Army master sergeant with an ax during a live “Fox & Friends” segment. This event led to a lawsuit against Hegseth and Fox News.
A still image from the Fox & Friends broadcast showing Pete Hegseth throwing an ax, which led to an on-air accident and subsequent lawsuit.Video evidence shows the ax missing its target and hitting Jeffrey Prosperie, a drummer with the West Point’s Hellcats field band, who was invited to the show for the Army’s 240th anniversary. Legal records indicate that the lawsuit was discontinued in 2019. Prosperie’s attorney confirmed that the matter was resolved privately. Fox News described the incident as “unfortunate and completely unintentional,” stating they apologized immediately and offered medical help, which was declined. Prosperie has since returned to perform on the network with the West Point band, indicating a resolution and forgiveness.
Questioning Women in Combat Roles
Hegseth has been a vocal proponent of enhancing military lethality and has argued that integrating women into combat roles undermines this objective. In a recent interview on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast, while promoting his book, Hegseth stated, “Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat, means casualties are worse.” He explicitly said, “we should not have women in combat roles — it hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated.”
While acknowledging diversity as a strength in the military, Hegseth qualified this by suggesting it primarily applies to minority and white men, who he believes are more similarly capable physically, contrasting this with women. He suggests that opening combat roles to women has led to lowered standards, thereby diminishing unit capability.
Image depicting female soldiers engaged in combat training, representing the debated topic of women’s roles in military combat and effectiveness.Despite these views, since 2016, when then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened all combat roles to women, numerous women have successfully completed rigorous military tests to join elite units like the Green Berets, Army Rangers, and Naval Special Warfare.
Defending Service Members Accused of War Crimes
In 2019, Hegseth actively campaigned for President Trump to pardon U.S. service members accused of war crimes. He used his platform on Fox News and online to advocate for these cases, interviewing family members and leveraging social media. He publicly expressed that pardons from Trump “would be amazing,” and used hashtags associated with the accused individuals in his posts.
This lobbying effort proved successful. Trump pardoned a former Army commando facing trial for the death of a suspected Afghan bomb-maker and a former Army lieutenant convicted of murder for ordering the killing of two Afghans. Additionally, Trump intervened to promote a Navy SEAL who had been convicted for actions related to posing with a deceased ISIS captive.
Military Service Background
Pete Hegseth is a military veteran, although his experience is not at the senior military or national security level. After graduating from Princeton University in 2003, he served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay.
Pete Hegseth pictured in his Army National Guard uniform, reflecting his military background and service in Afghanistan and Iraq.He formerly led Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative group supported by the Koch brothers, and unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. In Trump’s initial cabinet formation in 2016 and again in 2018, Hegseth was reportedly considered for the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Fox News Personality and Author
As a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” and a contributor for Fox News for a decade, Hegseth has built a significant media career. His relationship with Donald Trump grew through Trump’s frequent appearances on the show. Fox News has publicly praised Hegseth’s military knowledge, noting that his “insights and analysis especially about the military resonated deeply with our viewers.”
Hegseth is also an author, having written several books, including “The War on Warriors,” which Trump specifically complimented, highlighting its bestseller status on the New York Times list.
Leading the Pentagon Amidst Global Crises
Should Pete Hegseth be appointed Secretary of Defense, he would assume leadership of the Pentagon during a period of intense global instability. Ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, attacks by Iranian proxies in the Middle East, tensions between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea present formidable challenges.
The role of Defense Secretary is critical in any administration, but it was particularly turbulent during Trump’s first term, with five individuals holding the position. Trump’s relationships with both civilian and military leaders were often strained, marked by policy disagreements and communication challenges stemming from presidential pronouncements. Many generals from his first term have openly criticized Trump’s fitness for office, while Trump has, in turn, condemned them.
The question of whether Pete Hegseth will become the next Secretary of Defense remains open. His strong conservative stances and alignment with Trump’s “America First” policies position him as a potential candidate, but his controversial views and lack of high-level defense management experience present significant considerations. The decision will likely reflect the direction and priorities of the administration’s defense strategy in a complex and volatile global landscape.
