Gingrich applauds Hegseth pick: Pentagon needs ‘complete overhaul’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Pa.) credited President-elect Trump for reshaping the government with unexpected cabinet picks during an episode of “Cats Roundtable” on WABC 770 AM that aired Sunday.

“I'm watching President Trump create the most reform-oriented cabinet in my lifetime,” he told John Catsimidis.

He added that Trump’s nomination of former House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Fox News host Pete Hegseth would create an “amazing team,” specifically highlighting the need for “a complete overhaul” at the Pentagon.

“It’s going to take enormous courage and resilience on the part of Pete Hegseth to survive over there because the whole old order is going to try to destroy him,” Gingrich warned.

Hegseth’s selection has raised questions from lawmakers about his qualifications, resume and ability to lead the nation’s defense efforts.

But Gingrich believes his unique background would allow him to give the military the restructuring it needs.

“I've been actively involved in thinking about and working on defense for an extraordinarily long time. And I can tell you, the building needs a very complete overhaul,” Gingrich explained.

“I had one senior person in the military who retired, who was working with Trump, who said he would recommend the president have every three and four star general retire,” he added.

“And then go down to two stars to pick a whole new generation of leaders. He thinks between Obama and Biden, the whole system has just been undermined and corrupted.”

The former president is reportedly crafting an executive order that would invoke external reviews of ranking military members that could result in their dismissal.

Gingrich highlighted the new political landscape on the horizon as Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) work alongside the Trump administration with a total majority.

He described Thune as a “good guy” who “bridges everybody” while acknowledging that Johnson has the “hardest job in Washington today.”

Together, he shared that the three could make much-needed improvements to cities across the country.

“I think one of Trump's commitments ought to be to try to turn the cities red so that they actually have jobs, have safety and have decent, honest government,” Gingrich concluded. “Now, that's a pretty good project.”