Trump Picks Fox News Host To Be Secretary of Defense

Pete Hegseth has been selected by President-elect Trump to serve as his secretary of defense. 

"I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense. Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First," Trump said in a statement. 

Fox News Digital reports Hegseth's last day at Fox, where he co-hosted Sunday’s "FOX & Friends Weekend," was Tuesday. Hegseth started with FOX News as a contributor in 2014 and was named the co-host of "FOX & Friends Weekend" in 2017. He began co-hosting the show on a regular basis in late 2016 and was officially named to the role in January 2017.

"Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on ‘FOX & Friends’ and FOX Nation and a bestselling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade," a spokesperson for FOX News Media said in a statement. "His insights and analysis, especially about the military, resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington."

Hegseth, an Army National Gaurd veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has hosted the FOX Nation "Patriot Awards" since 2019, which is the network's version of a Hollywood awards show honoring heroes like first responders. 

Before you start freaking out about Pete Hegseth, let me educate you.

Pete has a bachelors from Princeton, a Masters from Harvard, 2 bronze stars, was a Major in the Army National Guard, has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan (has a CIB), and listen to this… pic.twitter.com/d2smhgYf5s

— Kron (@Kronykal) November 13, 2024

The Patriot Awards are scheduled for Dec. 5 in Brookville, New York. Hegseth will not be hosting the show.

Hegseth also hosted the popular FOX Nation specials "Poison Ivy" and "The Miseducation of America." Most recently, Hegseth wrote the FOX News Books bestseller "War on Warriors," which has sold nearly 150,000 copies since it debuted in June 2024 and shot to No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list. 

Hegseth has repeatedly advocated for military veterans and championed veteran and military causes. While serving in the Army, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, awarded to infantry soldiers who participate in active combat.

When the Hegseth news became public, Fox News released the following statement:

“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation and a best-selling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade. His insights and analysis especially about the military resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News Media and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”