Trump taps Fox host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary role

President-elect Donald Trump surprised the political world Tuesday night by selecting Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his nominee for secretary of defense.

“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country,” Trump, 78, announced in a statement. “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.”

Hegseth, a former Army officer with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, is an unconventional choice among a group of seasoned contenders, which included Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), known for her work with the Pentagon on defense policy; House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.); and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, an Army National Guard member like Hegseth.

Hegseth joined Fox News in 2014 and has since become a regular voice on defense and national security issues, currently serving as co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend.”