In June 2020, amidst widespread protests in American cities, Pete Hegseth, co-host of a show, suggested on-air that sending in the military was the only way to save Seattle from the self-declared autonomous zone created by protestors.
As President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Hegseth's past controversial policies have come under scrutiny. These include advocating for the use of military force to quell domestic riots, supporting enhanced interrogation methods like waterboarding, advocating for pardoning US soldiers convicted of war crimes, endorsing targeting cultural institutions in drone strikes, and proposing a ban on women in combat roles.
Analysis of Hegseth's media appearances from 2008 to 2024, particularly during his time as a news contributor and host, reveals his evolving stance on national security. Initially critical of Trump's lack of national security experience during the 2016 primaries, Hegseth later became one of Trump's staunchest supporters after his election.
In response to criticisms, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition defended Hegseth's record of military service and past comments as a news host. The spokesperson emphasized Hegseth's commitment to upholding the Constitution and President Trump's 'Make America Strong Again' agenda as the nominee for Secretary of Defense.
