Hegseth Vows to Restore Pentagon Focus on Warfighters If Appointed Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth, the nominee for secretary of defense selected by Trump, is a former officer of the Army National Guard and has held leadership positions in various veterans organizations.
In a December 9 interview, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that if he receives confirmation for the position, his primary focus will be to revamp the U.S. military and restore the “Pentagon to the warfighters.”
Hegseth mentioned that Trump directed him to “return the Pentagon to the warfighters, Pete, get in there and clean out all the social justice and politically correct garbage … focus back on lethality, warfighting, accountability, meritocracy, and readiness.”
According to Hegseth, this is the desire of 95 percent of those within the Pentagon and the service members.
“By returning to that foundation, you can transform the culture of an institution that can then stand tall, addressing the recruiting and retention crises,” Hegseth explained.
He further noted that since Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, families have reached out to him, expressing that their children want to re-enlist in the military.
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“Consequently, the rest of the world will notice these changes. I will refrain from discussing specific policies or our strategies ahead of the president’s statements, but we will exhibit strength and maintain peace through strength while prioritizing America,” Hegseth asserted.
He has denied the assault claims and maintains that his affair was consensual. The sources presenting allegations against him at Fox News have remained anonymous.
“This is a typical tactic from the left, Sean. It’s a formula for a smear campaign. They distort reality, utilize anonymous sources, and fabricate lies before attempting to convict you in the public eye,” declared Hegseth during the interview with Hannity.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and previous director at several veterans’ organizations, was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump on November 12. Following his nomination, Hegseth concluded his contract with Fox News.
Contributions to this report were made by Jacob Burg and Jack Phillips.
