President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary has created waves across Washington, catching the Pentagon and national security community by surprise. The choice of Hegseth, a conservative media personality with combat experience but limited exposure to high-level defense strategy, has raised questions about his suitability to lead the U.S. military.

Known as a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Hegseth, a 44-year-old Army National Guard captain, has become a prominent voice for Trump’s “America First” policies, often emphasizing a vision for a more aggressive, “lethal” military. His statements against “woke” policies in the armed forces have resonated with some Republican lawmakers who view his stance as a return to traditional military values, while others remain wary of his lack of strategic experience.

At a Las Vegas rally in June, Trump promoted Hegseth’s book, promising that with Hegseth in office, “the woke stuff will be gone within a period of 24 hours.” Hegseth has openly criticized the role of women in combat and argued for pardoning service members convicted of war crimes, advocating for a military that focuses on combat readiness above social programs.

A Veteran Turned Media Personality

Before joining Fox News, Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantry officer, earning a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. He joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 2003 after studying at Princeton and later served as a counterinsurgency instructor in Kabul. Hegseth’s background includes a Senate run in Minnesota in 2012 and authorship of several books on military and conservative politics, with his latest, The War of Warriors, emphasizing the challenges soldiers face in a changing political landscape.

A Divisive Nomination

Trump’s selection of Hegseth marks a continuation of appointing loyalists in key roles, but some defense officials worry about Hegseth’s lack of high-level military strategy experience. Supporters argue that his conservative stance and military service reflect a commitment to traditional defense values, while critics question his readiness to manage complex defense policies on the global stage.

If confirmed, Hegseth would become one of the youngest U.S. defense secretaries in history, ushering in a defense strategy centered on force readiness, patriotism, and a shift away from diversity-focused initiatives.