Trump Nominates Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

“I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as Secretary of Defense,” Trump said in a press statement.

“Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country. He is tough, smart, and a true believer in putting 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,” the statement added.

Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a graduate degree from Harvard University. He is an Army combat veteran who has served tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his actions on the battlefield, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Hegseth has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he has used his platform to advocate for military members and veterans. His recent book, The War on Warriors, spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at number one. The book highlights what he describes as a “left-wing betrayal” of American service members and calls for a return to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence in the military. Hegseth has also led two veterans advocacy organizations, advancing the fight for the well-being of service members and veterans.

“Nobody fights harder for the troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘peace through strength’ policy,” Trump remarked.