Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) stated he was “very disturbed” by President-elect Trump’s announcement Tuesday that he’s selecting Pete Hegseth, an Military veteran and Fox Information host, to go the Protection Division.
“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 informed CNN’s Erin Burnett Tuesday on “Out Front.”
“I appreciate Mr. Hegseth’s service in our Armed Forces, but being a serviceman does not make you qualified to lead the dep of defense and to have access to our nuclear weapons,” he added within the interview, highlighted by Mediaite. “I’m very disturbed by this and I’m very concerned about what it demonstrates about Donald Trump’s priorities.”
The New York Democrat’s feedback come throughout a time of worldwide unrest, with conflict in Ukraine and the Center East, an more and more belligerent North Korea and Iran, and China — which continues to threaten Taiwan and encroach on contested areas within the Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth, who served as an infantry captain within the Military Nationwide Guard and did excursions in Afghanistan and Iraq, was a considerably stunning selection as his identify was not floated amongst these more likely to be thought-about as Pentagon chief.
Extra well-known figures like Home Armed Providers Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — an Military Nationwide Guard veteran — and different Trump allies that held earlier positions within the Protection Division throughout his first time period.
“Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy,” Trump, who was declared the winner of the 2024 election simply final week, stated in his announcement.
The president-elect is predicted to remodel the U.S. navy when he returns to the White Home in January, with guarantees to slash spending, skinny the highest ranks and roll again efforts to make the navy extra inclusive to transgender and girls troopers.
The Hill has contacted the Trump marketing campaign for remark.
