PNN – The choice of a Fox News TV host to the position of Secretary of Defense by US President-elect Donald Trump brought a wave of surprise among US officials.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network from Politico magazine, although national security officials and defense analysts who had the experience of the first four years of Trump’s presidency were ready for such a surprise. However, many officials believe that the choice of Fox News anchor Pete Hegsett as a network close to Trump and a veteran of the US military was a complete surprise.
Eric Edelman, who was a senior Pentagon official during the Bush administration, said in an interview on the same topic: Trump places the highest value on loyalty. But it seems that one of the main criteria for this choice is how much people defend Donald Trump on TV?
One of the influential figures of the defense industry, who asked not to be named, said in a much sharper tone in this context: who else is he we were hoping to select someone who has a lot of experience in defense. He then said with a mocking tone: This was a good start.
Politico goes on to say that such a choice indicates that Trump is looking to appoint a loyal and unquestioning executor of his policies, adding: Trump’s campaign rhetoric has also raised concerns that his second term as president may be accompanied by rapid and divisive changes in the Pentagon.
According to many observers, Trump’s return to the White House could mean abandoning many of the policies of the Joe Biden administration, including the possibility of banning the presence of trans soldiers, ending the right to abortion, increasing tensions with allies and reducing the number of American troops in the territory of friendly countries.
Read more:
Trump rewards Musk and Ramaswamy as head of ‘unknown ministry’
Even now, at the very beginning of the work, the choice of Hexet has faced many strong reactions; including Paul Rickhoff, the founder of the “Independent Veterans of America” ​​organization, who wrote in a post on X after this election: “Hexett is without a doubt the least qualified candidate for the Pentagon post in American history and has the least political record. Brace yourselves, America.”
Politico pointed out: Trump’s selection of such a person to the position of the Ministry of Defense has added to fears and concerns about the purge of high-ranking generals by the president as the commander-in-chief.
Hext also recently criticized the US defense policy in a podcast addressed to Trump: First of all, you should remove the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Any general, admiral or any other person who was involved in the crimes.
He also called for a fundamental shift in US military priorities, warning that the current focus on diversity and inclusiveness is weakening US defense.
Politico continues that Trump’s surprising choice for the Secretary of Defense has also become controversial in Congress.
Adam Smith, the senior Democratic representative in the House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee, expressed concern about this choice and said: Hext does not have the experience to deal with the Pentagon’s bureaucracy.
Speaking to reporters, he added: I admit that I did not know who he was until 20 minutes ago, and it certainly does not seem that he has any background in the politics of the Ministry of Defense.
Max Bergman, a senior member of the “Center for Strategic Studies” and an official of former US President Barack Obama’s administration, also said in this regard: I think this is an amazing choice. That someone is a TV personality and while the world is falling apart, you choose someone who is not the most experienced.
He then added: “The casting of Pete Hegsett is hilariously the stupidest thing that could have been predicted.”