President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he’s chosen Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth as his pick for defense secretary.
Pete Hegseth was a Surprise Pick
Trump praised Hegseth as “tough, smart, and a true believer in America First,” adding, “With Pete in charge, America’s enemies are on notice—our military will be stronger than ever, and America will never back down.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was quick to endorse Trump’s choice, calling Hegseth a “great pick.” “Pete’s got the experience, and I think he’ll be reform-minded where we need it,” Johnson said, though he didn’t go into specifics on what changes he’s looking for.
Not everyone was as enthusiastic, though. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, admitted he was taken by surprise. “Honestly, I didn’t even know who Pete Hegseth was until about 20 minutes ago,” Smith told reporters. “He doesn’t seem to have much of a background in DoD policy. His experience has been more on veterans issues, so the lack of DoD experience is concerning.”
Smith added, “I haven’t heard his plans yet, so we’ll see what he has in mind. But with the Pentagon being the world’s largest bureaucracy, it’s going to be a real challenge.”
Trump continues to build up his cabinet
Trump’s announcement comes amidst a slew of recent picks for his second administration. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he would nominate former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as CIA director. On Monday, he tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as his choice for U.N. ambassador and named former Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA. And on Sunday, Trump introduced Tom Homan, a hardliner on immigration, as his “border czar.”
Trump’s major staffing announcements started last week when he named Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as his pick for White House chief of staff.
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