NY Democrat: Hegseth not a 'serious person' or 'serious pick'

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said Fox News host Pete Hegseth is not a “serious pick” after news broke Tuesday that he was President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department.

“Do you believe he is qualified to lead the Department of Defense?” MSNBC’s Jonathan Lemire questioned Ryan on “Morning Joe,” which was highlighted by Mediaite.

“This is an incredibly serious time in the world,” Ryan, who served in the Army, said. “It’s [an] incredibly serious cabinet position. And I don’t think Hegseth is a serious person and a serious pick.”

Hegseth was one of multiple nominees announced on Tuesday to join Trump’s next administration. Hegseth previously served as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and spent two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, before leading conservative veterans' advocacy groups and joining Fox News.

“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump said in a statement.

Hegseth’s selection drew some puzzled reactions from even some Senate Republicans, who will decide if he's confirmed. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was “surprised” by the choice on Tuesday night, while Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said, “I don’t know anything about him.”

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said he had “no earthly idea” who the Fox News host was until the announcement.

“Sadly, it’s not surprising coming from Trump, who dodged [the] draft five times, called our troops ‘Suckers and losers,’ insulted gold star families, medal of honor recipients, trampled on the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery,” Ryan said of Hegseth’s selection on “Morning Joe.”

“And I’m not surprised that he picked a Fox News host rather than someone who is gonna understand the seriousness of the moment,” he added.

Ryan’s fellow New York Democrat, Rep. Dan Goldman, also said he was “very disturbed” by Hegseth’s selection on Tuesday.

“I’m shocked, truly, and this is exactly what we worried about when we warned about Donald Trump, which is that he is going to appoint unqualified loyalists to shape this government into his own personal fiefdom,” Goldman said on CNN.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.