‘WTF?’ Trump Stuns With Pete Hegseth Defense Secretary Pick | EUROtoday

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday introduced he’ll nominate Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be his subsequent secretary of protection, surprising protection circles, critics and even some allies.

Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor a decade in the past, 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, however lacks senior army or nationwide safety expertise.

A staunch Trump ally, he’s defended Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, stated girls shouldn’t have fight roles within the army, and efficiently pushed for Trump to pardon convicted warfare criminals in 2019.

Trump’s Truth Social announcement Tuesday night time attracted swift backlash from detractors and bewilderment from the protection world, veterans teams, and lawmakers on each side of the aisle.

“Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political,” Paul Rieckhoff, founding father of Independent Veterans of America, stated in a publish on X, previously 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 alternative, an unnamed protection trade lobbyist stated to Politico, “Who the fuck is this guy?” including that they’d hoped for “someone who actually has an extensive background in defense.”

Several Republican senators additionally appeared stunned by the transfer. Hegseth will should be confirmed by the Senate, which shall be managed by the GOP.

“Wow,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) stated of Trump’s announcement, in line with 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.) stated, per NBC News. “I don’t know Pete. I just don’t know anything about him.”

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

Democrats and different critics had been much 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.) stated on CNN.

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

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

“This is an incredibly serious time in the world,” he stated. “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 in every of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics, predicted the nomination is an effort to “bring the culture war stuff front and center.”

Republicans in opposition to Trump, a pro-democracy group, merely reacted with, “WTF???”

Over on Fox News, Hegseth’s colleagues appeared stunned however delighted.

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

“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 additionally 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 extra reactions to the information from throughout social media beneath.