By Samuel Chamberlain and Victor Nava | New York Post
President-elect Donald Trump stunned political observers Tuesday night by nominating Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country,” Trump, 78, said 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.”
The choice of Hegseth is an unorthodox pick from a field of contenders that included Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who earned favor in military circles for working closely with the Pentagon on defense legislation; House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.); and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat-turned-Republican and an Army National Guard member like Hegseth.