Trump appoints television host, army veteran Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary

Donald Trump, the US President-elect, chose Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary on Tuesday. Hegseth, 44, is a familiar face on Fox News and a veteran of the US Army.

Trump shared the news on Tuesday night. "I am honoured to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," he said.

Trump praised Hegseth's dedication to the military. "Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our 'Peace through Strength' policy," he stated.

Hegseth, a graduate of Princeton University, also holds a graduate degree from Harvard University. He served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan during his time in the Army. His service earned him two Bronze stars and a Combat Infantryman's badge.

Trump highlighted Hegseth's experience advocating for veterans, including his book, "The War on Warriors." "Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our military and veterans. Pete's recent book 'The War on Warriors' spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at number one," Trump said.

Trump believes Hegseth will prioritize the military's strength. "Our military will be great again, and America will never back down," he declared.