'WTF???' Trump Stuns With Defense Secretary Pick: 'Brace Yourself, America'

Josephine Harvey
·6-min read

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he will nominate Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be his next secretary of defense, shocking defense circles, critics and even some allies.

Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor a decade ago, and now co-hosts “Fox & Friends Weekend.” He’s a veteran of the Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan, in Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, but lacks senior military or national security experience.

A staunch Trump ally, he’s defended Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, said women should not have combat roles in the military, and successfullypushed for Trump to pardon convicted war criminals in 2019.

Trump’s Truth Social announcement Tuesday night attracted swift backlash from detractors and bewilderment from the defense world, veterans groups, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

“Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political,” Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Brace yourself, America.

He also shared what he said were messages he received from other leaders across the defense and veterans community in response to the news, which were generally on the theme of “WTF.”

Reacting to Trump’s choice, an unnamed defense industry lobbyist said to Politico, “Who the fuck is this guy?” adding that they had hoped for “someone who actually has an extensive background in defense.”

Several Republican senators also seemed taken aback by the move. Hegseth will need to be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by the GOP.

“Wow,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said of Trump’s announcement, according to NBC News. “I’m just surprised, because the names that I’ve heard for secretary of defense have not included him.”

“Who?” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said, per NBC News. “I don’t know Pete. I just don’t know anything about him.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told a Fox News reporter, “Really? I’d have to think about it.”

Democrats and other critics were less restrained.

“This is exactly what we worried about, and we warned about, Donald Trump, which is that he is going to appoint unqualified loyalists to shape this government into his own personal fiefdom,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said on CNN.

“I’m very disturbed by this,” he added.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) told MSNBC he’s “very concerned.”

“This is an incredibly serious time in the world,” he said. “It’s an incredibly serious Cabinet position. And I don’t think Hegseth is a serious person and a serious pick.”

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics, predicted the nomination is an effort to “bring the culture war stuff front and center.”

Republicans against Trump, a pro-democracy group, simply reacted with, “WTF???”

Over on Fox News, Hegseth’s colleagues appeared surprised but delighted.

“Pete Hegseth could be the next secretary of defense. What the heck? Can you believe it?” Jesse Watters said to Trump press secretary-turned-Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany on air Tuesday night.

“I mean look, I was stunned when I saw it, but then it made all the sense in the world,” she replied, touting his background.

Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson also weighed in.

“I never thought I’d say I’m stunned about any pick after the election but nominating Pete Hegseth for this incredibly important role? Yes he’s a veteran … and?” she wrote on X.

See more reactions to the news from across social media below.

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