An Alabamian won’t be leading the Pentagon for the second consecutive administration after Donald Trump said Tuesday he intends to nominate the Fox News host, and decorated war veteran, Pete Hegseth, for the post of Defense Secretary.
Representative Mike Rogers from Alabama, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, had been among the leading contenders. Had he been nominated by Trump, and confirmed by the Senate, Rogers would have been the second straight Alabamian to be defense secretary.
Trump stated – “I’m honored to announce – that I have nominated – Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as the Secretary of Defense; he 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,” he added “with Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice, and our military will be great again, and America will never back down,”
Hegseth, a Fox News host for some eight years, graduated from Princeton University and Harvard University and is an Army veteran who served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He’s received two Bronze Stars – and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge – for his service.