Trump nominates Fox News host Pete Hegseth to head Department of Defense in snub to former Dem Rep Tulsi Gabbard

President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he is nominating Fox News host and decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth to be his defense secretary.

The 44-year-old deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and won two Bronze Stars, then unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News.

“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said in a statement as he strengthened much of his Cabinet on Tuesday.

The appointment comes just hours after former Democratic Congresswoman and Trump ally Tulsi Gabbard said she wanted the job.

“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice: Our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump added.

“Pete is tough, smart and truly believes in America First,” Trump said in a statement

“No one fights harder for the troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace Through Strength’ policy.”

“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation for nearly a decade and a bestselling author for FOX News Books,” a Fox News Media spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement.

‘His insights and analyses, especially about the military, resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the great success it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News Media and wish him continued success in Washington.”

Trump is rolling out a steady stream of appointees and nominees for his coming administration, so far working at a faster pace and without as much drama as his first transition after his 2016 victory.

Hegseth, 44, co-hosts Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor to the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who appeared regularly on the show.

He is also the author of The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.

The book, according to the promo, combines “his own war experiences, stories of outrage, and an astute look at how the chain of command became so warped,” and bills itself as “the key to saving our warriors – and winning future wars.” . .’

Although the Pentagon is considered an important coveted post in any administration, the secretary of defense was a tumultuous post during Trump’s first term.

The 44-year-old deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and won two Bronze Stars, then unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News

The appointment comes after former Democratic Congresswoman and Trump ally Tulsi Gabbard said she wanted the job

Hegseth has been one of the main hosts of Fox & Friends Weekend

Five men held the job during its four years, but then resigned, were fired or briefly served as a stopgap. Only two of them were actually confirmed by the Senate.

Trump’s relationship with his civilian and military leaders during those years was fraught with tension, confusion and frustration, as they struggled to temper or even interpret presidential tweets and statements that blindsided them with abrupt policy decisions they were unwilling to make. to explain or explain. defend.

Many of the generals who served during his first administration – both active duty and retired – declared him unfit to serve in the Oval Office and he condemned them in return.

Hegseth was an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and served overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He previously headed Concerned Veterans for America, a group backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job amid a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and continued attacks in the Middle East by Iranian allies to the push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. and Hezbollah and escalating concerns about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

On a recent appearance on Fox Newshe made clear that he felt that Joe Biden’s White House – led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin – was controlled by “pro-Palestinian millennials.”

“What Israel is about to do is bring down hell on Hamas. Israel is on the verge of a real war. Israel will pile up the bodies because Netanyahu is not messing around,” he said.

During a recent appearance on Fox News, he made it clear that he felt Joe Biden’s White House — led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — was led by “pro-Palestinian millennials.”

Trump’s relationship with his civilian and military leaders during those years was fraught with tension, confusion and frustration, as they struggled to temper or even interpret presidential tweets and statements that blindsided them with abrupt policy decisions they were unwilling to make. to explain or explain. defend

Hegseth has “an excellent background as a commissioned officer, but does not have the senior national security experience secretaries need,” said Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“I think Trump got tired of fighting with his defense secretaries and chose one who would stay loyal to him.” Cancian said the lack of experience could make it more difficult for Hegseth to pass Senate confirmation.

Gabbard, a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who became a Republican after supporting Trump, had her eyes on the performance, according to the New York Post.

In a story published earlier today, Gabbard’s biggest opponent was believed to be former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, suggesting Trump may have played a Wild Card.

Hegseth’s announcement was part of Trump’s moves to build out his national security team on Tuesday

In a flurry of announcements, Trump said he had chosen former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and his longtime friend Steven Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East.

Trump also said he would nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security and named Bill McGinley, his Cabinet secretary during his first administration, as his White House counsel.