‘Never heard of him’: Surprise and questions greet Trump’s defence secretary pick Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON - US President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Mr Pete Hegseth as US defence secretary was met on Nov 13 with surprise at the Pentagon and bewilderment among some European allies, but some Republican lawmakers rallied around the Fox News host.

Mr Hegseth, a veteran with scant government experience, has disdained so-called “woke” policies of Pentagon leaders, opposed having women in combat roles, and questioned whether the top US general was in his position because of his skin colour.

The 44-year-old’s selection shocked many at the Pentagon, where officials privately questioned what qualified him for the position.

A senior Defence Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr Hegseth would be unqualified for a far less senior job.

Democratic lawmakers questioned his ability to lead 1.3 million service members.

“This is not an entry-level job for a TV commentator. The Senate should do its job and deny this nomination,” Democratic Representative Jason Crow said, echoing Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee.

Mr Hegseth could make good on Trump’s campaign promises to rid the US military of generals he accuses of pursuing progressive policies on diversity in the ranks, which conservatives have railed against.

It could also set up a collision course between Mr Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, a former fighter pilot with command experience in the Pacific and the Middle East, who Mr Hegseth accused of “pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians”.

Officials in Europe told Reuters they had little insight into Mr Hegseth and where he may stand on important issues.

“Never heard of him before... To have better understanding of him, I need to meet,” one senior European defence official said.

Another official said Mr Hegseth did not seem like the most qualified pick, “but the rule is every country has the right to pick its ministers, so we shall deal with whoever we have to”.

While Mr Hegseth has not articulated detailed positions on major national security topics, one thing is clear: his scepticism towards Nato.

“Outdated, outgunned, invaded and impotent. Why should America, the European ‘emergency contact number’ for the past century, listen to self-righteous and impotent nations asking us to honour outdated and one-sided defence arrangements they no longer live up to?” Mr Hegseth wrote in his book, which was published earlier in 2024.

Mr Hegseth got some backing from Republican lawmakers, whose support he will need to win Senate confirmation to become defence secretary.

Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he did not have any concerns about Mr Hegseth’s qualifications.

“No, I don’t have concerns,” he told CNN. “I’m delighted at the prospect of working with (him).”

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said he thought Mr Hegseth was a great guy, Senator Ted Budd called Mr Hegseth an “amazing individual”.

Mr Hegseth served in the National Guard from 2002 until 2021 and was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and received two Bronze Star medals, according to his service record. REUTERS