(in a sarcastic, observational tone, a la Jimmy Carr, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Evans)
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Trump’s latest brainchild, Pete Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense. Because, you know, what the world really needs is a TV host with a bad haircut running the Pentagon. I mean, who needs experience or qualifications when you’ve got a charming smile and a strong jawline?
Let’s take a look at Hegseth’s impressive CV, shall we? He’s a military veteran, which is great, but I’m not sure if being a platoon commander at Guantanamo Bay is exactly the kind of experience you want in a Secretary of Defense. I mean, who needs diplomacy and tact when you can just waterboard people?
And don’t even get me started on his views on Ukraine. He thinks Putin is just a “pretty smart” guy who’s just trying to “troll” the US media. Oh, that’s right, because nothing says “trolling” like invading a sovereign nation and killing thousands of people. I’m sure Hegseth’s vast knowledge of international relations and geopolitics will serve him well in this role.
But wait, it gets better. Hegseth has also written a book, “The Battle for the American Mind”, which spent 12 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. I’m sure it’s a thrilling page-turner, full of insightful analysis and witty observations. I bet it’s a real brain-twister, this one.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Who is this guy, and why should we care?” Well, let me tell you. Hegseth is a conservative commentator and TV host who’s been licking Trump’s boots for years. He’s the perfect candidate for a Trump administration, which values loyalty and sycophancy above all else.
So, there you have it, folks. Pete Hegseth, the next Secretary of Defense. Because, in Trump’s words, “Pete is a man of character, smart, and a true American patriot.” Yeah, right. I’m sure the world is just trembling with fear at the thought of Hegseth running the Pentagon. (rolls eyes)
Oh, and by the way, if you’re wondering who else is joining Trump’s team, let me tell you. It’s a veritable Who’s Who of crazy people. There’s Mike Walt, the national security adviser who thinks climate change is a hoax. There’s Mark Rubio, the potential Secretary of State who thinks the Earth is only 6,000 years old. And let’s not forget Elon Musk, who’s been tasked with heading up a new Ministry of Government Efficiency. Because, you know, what could possibly go wrong with that?
In conclusion, folks, it’s business as usual in the Trump administration. A cast of characters who are more suited to a bad sitcom than the White House. But hey, at least it’ll be entertaining. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Trump’s choice shocked Washington
Trump announced Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense in a post on Truth Social on November 12.
“Pete is a man of character, smart and a true American patriot. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies must know that our military will be great again and America will never give up,” Trump said.
Thus, if Hegseth is confirmed by Congress, he will replace current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Western media write that Trump’s nomination of a TV host and conservative commentator to head the Pentagon shocked Washington. Because they expected the candidate to be an experienced legislator or someone with experience in defense policy.
As Politico notes, this choice will not help allay fears in the Pentagon and beyond that Trump, who has been arguing with his defense secretaries since his first term, is this time planning to install a loyal person who will unconditionally implement his policies.
According to CNN, Hegseth was not among the candidates at first. However, the channel’s sources said that Trump had known Hegseth for a long time and always considered him “smart” and was amazed by his career.
Trump also likes the fact that Hegseth is a military veteran, and the US president-elect briefly considered him to head the Department of Veterans Affairs during his previous term, sources told CNN.
Who is Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and his wife Jenny live in Tennessee and have 7 children. The television personality and military veteran is an advocate of “America First” (a political position in the United States that typically emphasizes American exceptionalism and non-intervention).
Hegseth attended Forest Lake Area High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University in 2003. He received a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2013.
After graduating from Princeton in 2003, Hegseth worked at Bear Stearns as an equity capital markets analyst. The former National Guard officer served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
He received two bronze stars and the Combat Infantryman badge for his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth also served as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a veterans advocacy organization.
He has been active in conservative and Republican politics since his days at Princeton. In 2016, he served as an informal adviser to Trump. during his first presidential term.
According to public sources, he persuaded Trump to pardon three American soldiers accused or convicted of war crimes related to the shooting of non-combatants in Iraq. Because Hegseth, who was a platoon commander at Guantanamo Bay during his military service, defended the treatment of prisoners held there.
He has been working at Fox News for eight years now. who is considered loyal to the Republicans. There he is a commentator on all major programs – both daytime and prime time. He also author of books.
His latest, The Battle for the American Mind, spent more than twelve weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, including four weeks at No. 1. Hegseth’s two previous books, An American Crusade and Modern Warriors, were also bestsellers.
What did he say about Ukraine
Hegseth is a strong supporter of the newly elected US president and therefore defended Trump’s controversial comments about NATO and wars around the world, particularly in Ukraine.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Trump called Russian dictator Vladimir Putin “pretty smart” and a “genius.” Hegseth defended Trump’s comments, saying he was only trying to “troll” the US media for allegedly spreading too much material about Putin.
In the first days of the great Russian-Ukrainian war, Hegseth himself called Putin a war criminal who wanted to restore the USSR and advocated speeding up aid to Kyiv.
Later, in an interview, he called the idea that Russia, after Ukraine, could attack other countries in Europe “overblown.” He also shared views that coincided with Trump’s skepticism about mutual defense in the NATO military alliance.
“Why should America, Europe’s ’emergency contact’ for the last century, listen to complacent and powerless nations asking us to abide by outdated and one-sided defense agreements to which they no longer comply?” – Hegseth wrote in one of his books.
Let us recall that after winning the US presidential election, Donald Trump is gradually forming a new composition for his future team, among which there may be both fans and those skeptical about helping Ukraine.
However, it is already known who can occupy key positions in the administration of the elected US President. In particular, Trump chose Congressman Mike Walt as his national security adviser.
In addition, Florida Senator Mark Rubio could become the next US Secretary of State. The director of the CIA is former Texas House Republican and former Director of National Intelligence in the previous Trump administration, John Ratcliffe. The Secretary of State Security is Kristi Noem, who is the Governor of South Dakota.
Also, billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new Ministry of Government Efficiency for structural reforms.
In preparing the material, publications were used: Politico, CNN, Axios, data from Wikipedia, as well as the official website of Pete Hegseth.
Read urgent and important messages about Russia’s war against Ukraine on the channel RBC-Ukraine on Telegram.
