Fox News anchor becomes US Secretary of Defense.
According to CNN, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he has selected Pete Hext, a Fox News host and former military officer, to be his secretary of defense.
Sources told CNN that Hext’s selection as secretary of defense was a surprise because he was not among those Trump’s team had considered as possible choices.
According to CNN sources, Trump has a long and friendly relationship with Hext. Trump has always thought he was “smart” and praised his work.
Another source added that although Hext’s name was not on the initial list of candidates for secretary of defense, Donald Trump tried very hard to select him. Trump tried to nominate Hext as Secretary of Veterans Affairs during his first term but was warned that the Senate would not confirm him.
A Pentagon official, who spoke anonymously, told CNN that “everyone was completely taken aback.” Another Pentagon official who has been following potential defense secretary candidates said he learned of Hext’s potential nomination just hours before Trump’s announcement and was unsure how to react.
A former Trump administration official said they were “taken by surprise” by Trump’s pick and expected an effort to remove him.