Trump taps Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary

President-elect Trump on Tuesday announced he was choosing Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and a Fox News host, to serve as Defense secretary.

Hegseth served as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning two Bronze Stars. He is currently a co-host for "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"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.

The president-elect also used his statement to promote Hegseth's new book, as well as his work with veterans advocacy groups.

"Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our 'Peace through Strength' policy," Trump added.

Fox News confirmed to The Hill Hegseth's deal with the network ended on Tuesday and he will no longer host its popular morning program "Fox and Friends Weekend," a program he had presided over since 2017.

“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation and a best-selling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade," a spokesperson for the cable channel said. "His insights and analysis especially about the military resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”

Hegseth started with Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and has been one of its most prominent commentators on military affairs and foreign policy ever since.

He started co-hosting its weekend morning talk program on a regular basis in late 2016 and was officially named to the role the following January.

Hegseth was also instrumental to the network's push into streaming and live events, hosting the Fox Nation “Patriot Awards” every year since 2019, the outlet's version of a Hollywood awards show that honors first responders, military and police personnel.

Trump’s pick of Hegseth was somewhat unexpected, as his name had not been circulated among those likely to be considered for the job.

The post requires Senate confirmation. Republicans are likely to have 53 seats, meaning Hegseth could afford four GOP defections if he doesn't receive any Democratic support.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was "surprised" by the pick.

"I’m just surprised. I'm not going to comment on whether it's good, bad or indifferent. I’m just surprised because the names that I’ve heard for secretary of Defense have not included him," she said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), meanwhile, said he was unfamiliar with Hegseth.

"I don't know anything about him," Cassidy said.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) praised the move on Tuesday night, saying Hegseth is a "highly qualified" candidate who will shake up a Pentagon in need of reform.

"It's a great choice," Johnson said shortly after the announcement. "It's somebody who, I think, will be reform-minded in areas that need to be reformed. And he's highly qualified."

Democrats were less sure. Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he had "no earthly idea" who Hegseth was until the announcement. And that lack of prominence within the defense community, he added, could be a sign of problems to come.

"The lack of experience is concerning. Now, I have not heard what his plans are, so we will see what his plans are. But it was surprising," he said. "The Pentagon — [it's] the biggest bureaucracy in the world. It's a hard thing to run."

Fox News host Laura Ingraham was also among those apparently surprised by Hegseth's selection, reading Trump's statement on air just minutes after he made the announcement.

"Wow, that is pretty cool," Ingraham, a vocal Trump backer, said. "We're going to miss him at Fox, but that's a gain for the country. That's incredible."

The president-elect spoke frequently on the campaign trail about firing military leadership involved in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which led to the death of 13 American soldiers, and about rooting out what he and his allies describe as “woke” elements of the military that are focused on social justice and equity.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Tuesday evening that Trump’s transition team is weighing a draft executive order that would establish a board of retired military personnel who could review the status of three- and four-star generals for potential removal from their posts.

Trump drew scrutiny in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign after he suggested the military could be used to quell unrest among his critics in the event he won.

Defense secretary proved to be one of Trump’s more volatile Cabinet posts during his first term in office. Jim Mattis resigned after Trump said he was withdrawing troops from Syria, and his replacement, Mark Esper, was fired days after the 2020 election and has since been critical of Trump.

Al Weaver and Mike Lillis contributed

Updated at 8:12 p.m. EDT