Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday mentioned Fox Information host Pete Hegseth will not be a “serious pick” after information broke Tuesday that he was President-elect Trump’s nominee to steer the Protection Division.
“Do you believe he is qualified to lead the Department of Defense?” MSNBC’s Jonathan Lemire questioned Ryan on “Morning Joe,” which was highlighted by Mediaite.
“This is an incredibly serious time in the world,” Ryan, who served within the Military, mentioned. “It’s [an] incredibly serious cabinet position. And I don’t think Hegseth is a serious person and a serious pick.”
Hegseth was considered one of a number of nominees introduced on Tuesday to hitch Trump’s subsequent administration. Hegseth beforehand served as an infantry captain within the Military Nationwide Guard and spent two excursions in Afghanistan and Iraq, earlier than main conservative veterans’ advocacy teams and becoming a member of Fox Information.
“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump mentioned in an announcement.
Hegseth’s choice drew some puzzled reactions from even some Senate Republicans, who will determine if he is confirmed. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) mentioned she was “surprised” by the selection on Tuesday evening, whereas Sen. Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) mentioned, “I don’t know anything about him.”
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) mentioned he had “no earthly idea” who the Fox Information host was till the announcement.
“Sadly, it’s not surprising coming from Trump, who dodged [the] draft five times, called our troops ‘Suckers and losers,’ insulted gold star families, medal of honor recipients, trampled on the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery,” Ryan mentioned of Hegseth’s choice on “Morning Joe.”
“And I’m not surprised that he picked a Fox News host rather than someone who is gonna understand the seriousness of the moment,” he added.
Ryan’s fellow New York Democrat, Rep. Dan Goldman, additionally mentioned he was “very disturbed” by Hegseth’s choice on Tuesday.
“I’m shocked, truly, and this is exactly what we worried about when we warned about Donald Trump, which is that he is going to appoint unqualified loyalists to shape this government into his own personal fiefdom,” Goldman mentioned on CNN.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition staff for remark.
