Pete Hegset, a former Fox News host and military operations veteran, became the new U.S. Secretary of Defense, world news agencies reported on Saturday, January 25.
Hegset’s nomination for this position sparked controversy due to allegations of rape, allegedly occurring in September 2017. Hegset denies the charges.
During the U.S. Senate vote, the results were split evenly, and the deciding vote came from Vice President James David Vance.
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously expressed support for Hegset, praising his toughness, intelligence, and commitment to the “America First” principle. “With Hegset, America’s enemies will be warned,” Trump added, stating that the U.S. military “will be great again” and that “America will never retreat.”
Hegset served at the Guantanamo Bay base and participated in military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
