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As leftist attacks expanded beyond President-elect Donald Trump to his appointment selections, his Fox News host nominee for Defense Secretary caught many off guard.
Following his Election Day victory, the GOP leader quickly set to work staffing his second administration, announcing picks for chief of staff, ambassador roles, and more. While a decision about Elon Musk heading a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy fell within expectations, nominating Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense sent talking heads into fits about “access to our nuclear weapons.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Trump nominated the 44-year-old Minnesota Army National Guard major, highlighting his academic achievements at Princeton University before earning a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, as well his life spent as a “Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country.”
“Pete has also led two Veterans Advocacy organizations, leading the fight for our Warriors, and our great Veterans,” said the president who listed Hegseth’s decorations. “Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”
However, corporate media appeared unable to get beyond Hegseth’s stint on Fox News, including being the co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekends,” as they diminished the nomination of the man who’d recently addressed the need to get rid of the “woke sh*t” in the military.
“So typical,” ripped James “Bo Snerdley” Golden, producer, call screener, and friend of the late great Rush Limbaugh as he shared the reaction from MSNBC’s Joy Reid who said, “The former and future president is moving quickly to fill the clown car and round out his cabinet before he changes his mind and fires them all. Moments ago Trump announced that he has selected Fox Morning weekend host Pete Hegseth… because why not?”
So typical. https://t.co/Pv8LYqwro0
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) November 13, 2024
In his own social media response to the nomination, Don Lemon mocked the president’s pick, initially saying, “When I saw it, I thought The [Associated Press] must have been hacked,” before laughing, “But Pete Hegseth? The morning, weekend host on Fox News? Come on.”
Lawmakers also joined in with their own reactions as New York Rep. Dan Goldman (D) saw fit to demonize the selection as he told CNN’s Erin Burnett, “I’m shocked, truly. And 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, and get revenge on generals and put essentially really unqualified people.”
(Video: CNN)
“I appreciate Mr. Hegseth’s service in our armed forces, but being a serviceman does not make you qualified to lead the Department of Defense and to have access to our nuclear weapons,” he went on. “I’m very disturbed by this and I’m very concerned about what it demonstrates about Donald Trump’s priorities which now seem to be coming true as many of us warned.”
A litany of other responses from Republican senators came as a mixed bag with Bill Cassidy of Louisiana asking, “Who?” while Lisa Murkowski offered, “Wow… I’m just surprised because the names that I’ve heard for Secretary of Defense have not included him.”
While Tommy Tuberville of Alabama hedged, “Really? I’d have to think about it,” Ted Budd of North Carolina remarked, “He’s an impressive individual.”
GOP Sens on Pete Hegseth as SecDef:
Murk: “Wow…I’m just surprised because the names that I’ve heard for Secretary of Defense have not included him.”
Budd: “He’s an impressive individual.”
Cassidy: “Who?”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) November 13, 2024
Elsewhere, former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) joined “The Ingraham Angle” and argued in favor of Hegseth, “I think he’ll get easily confirmed. I dare any Republican senator to vote against him. That is not in their best interest. And we need to get him in place as soon as possible. Relief is on the way. This is exactly what I think America was striving for. And I can’t believe how excited I am.”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham said, “He’s been on that issue on what woke-ifying our warrior class has done to military morale — to recruitment. He has been on the problems we’ve had on our deficit and recruitment like nobody’s business. And man, that’s gonna be a big, big task for him to undertake once he gets into the Pentagon, which, of course, he’ll get confirmed no problem, given his incredible background.”
(Video Credit: Fox News)
As others showed their favor for the anti-establishment pick to head the Defense Department, they included sound mocking of outrage from the likes of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) who backed up her case that Hegseth would “make us less safe” by noting “All three of my brothers served in uniform.”
“You falsely claimed to be an Indian to get a job you couldn’t get on the merits,” stated The Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis after reminding of the nominee’s accolades. “Sit down, Pocahontas.”
Pete Hegseth is a 20-year military veteran, a decorated combat veteran, a recipient of the Bronze Star (2x), and graduated from both Harvard and Princeton.
You falsely claimed to be an Indian to get a job you couldn’t get on the merits. Sit down, Pocahontas. https://t.co/BjCiROQVGn
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 13, 2024
I think he’s great for a desperately needed CULTURE shift. I’ll bet on him to get recruitment numbers up.
— Alex (@thavogt) November 13, 2024
The new administration is looking for real experience and education and not DEI box checking.
— DogFacePonia (@DogFacePonia) November 13, 2024
Army combat veteran, did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Yale and Harvard educated, fighter for all American veterans and not part of the DC swamp.
— Ava- I Love My USA! (@WEdwarda) November 13, 2024
All of you in the press tweeting that Pete Hegseth is Fox host without mentioning his long, distinguished military career and combat experience are part of the problem.
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) November 13, 2024
Isn’t it wonderful? Great pick. Pete is a hero and a real Patriot!
— Annessa Brady (@AnnessaBrady) November 13, 2024
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