WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump announced Tuesday his nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Afghanistan war veteran, to serve as secretary of defense. Hegseth, who also saw duty in Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay, is a Fox News host and strong supporter of Trump’s “America First” vision.
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First,” Trump said in a statement. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice—our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”
Hegseth, 44, has become a close ally of Trump, who considered him for roles in his first administration. Known for his vocal advocacy on behalf of veterans and active-duty service members, Hegseth has used his platform on Fox News to back Trump’s policies and to promote military causes.
After graduating from Princeton University in 2003, Hegseth joined the Army National Guard, where he served as an infantry captain and completed tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantánamo Bay. Despite his extensive combat experience, Hegseth lacks high-level national security or Pentagon management experience, a factor likely to draw scrutiny during his Senate confirmation process. He also holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Hegseth previously led the conservative group Concerned Veterans for America, supported by donors Charles and David Koch, and he made an unsuccessful run for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2012.
In addition to his military service, Hegseth has been outspoken in defending U.S. service members accused of war crimes. In 2019, he publicly urged Trump to pardon several service members facing charges related to combat actions. Through Fox News, Hegseth interviewed families of the accused and lobbied for their cases on social media, where he described potential pardons as “amazing.” Trump later issued high-profile pardons, including for a former Army commando accused of killing an Afghan bomb-maker and a Navy SEAL convicted of posing with the body of an Islamic State fighter.
If confirmed, Hegseth would join a select few defense secretaries with limited senior military or government leadership experience, a move that may raise questions among Senate members. However, Hegseth’s appointment is likely to resonate with Trump’s base, who view him as a champion for veterans and a firm advocate for a robust, uncompromising military presence abroad.
