Pete Hegseth, the controversial ex-military and TV presenter who will lead the largest army in the world

Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Atahualpa Amerise
- Author’s title, BBC News World
After a lengthy process, Pete Hegseth was confirmed this Friday as United States Secretary of Defense in a tight vote in the Senate.
With a result of 51-50, where US Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, the appointment of this loyal ally of Donald Trump with a history full of controversy anticipates, according to some experts, a turn in the Pentagon towards more nationalist and eventually isolationist policies.
An army veteran, television presenter and commentator, Hegseth, 44, has stood out both for his prolific military record and for his extreme ideological positions, marked by a staunch defense of American nationalism and harsh criticism of international institutions such as NATO.
The process that led to his confirmation was mired in controversy, with questions about his ideology and turbulent past that generated divisions even within the Republican Party.
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Hegseth assumes the responsibility of leading the world’s largest army in a context of strong tensions and global challenges, from the war in Ukraine to the conflict in the Middle East.
We tell you who this controversial figure is.
From soldier to TV presenter
Born into a family of Norwegian origin in Minnesota, Pete Hegseth combines a distinguished military record with a public career full of questionable episodes.
Hegseth graduated with honors in Political Science from the prestigious Princeton University, where he began to define his conservative ideology as editor of the magazine The Princeton Tory.
As a student he also joined the army officer training program, which marked the beginning of a career that would later take him to countries at war in the Middle East.
As an infantry officer, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning awards such as the Bronze Star for his role in conflict zones.
He also participated in operations at Guantánamo and training missions with local forces.
After leaving active duty, Hegseth led veterans organizations such as Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, promoting conservative defense policies.
These stages were also marked by complaints about its financial management, irregularities and internal conflicts.
His joining Fox News as a commentator in 2014 and three years later as host of one of the network’s highest-rated programs made him a visible face of conservative nationalism.
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From there he supported Donald Trump, defended controversial policies such as pardons for soldiers accused of war crimes, which the president applied in his first term, and harshly criticized international institutions such as NATO.
in his book American Crusade (“The American Crusade”) asserted that “NATO is not an alliance but a defense arrangement for Europe, paid for and supported by the United States,” and advocated that it be “dismantled and rebuilt so that freedom can truly be defended.” .
A turbulent past
During Pete Hegseth’s confirmation process, allegations ranging from domestic abuse and alcohol abuse to paying $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017 came to light.
Although Hegseth has denied the allegations, he did admit to making the payment as part of a confidential settlement, supposedly to avoid professional consequences while working at Fox News.
His former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth revealed that the second wife of the current Secretary of Defense feared for her safety during their marriage, to the point of hiding from him in a closet during an episode of alleged domestic violence.
These accusations, combined with allegations of alcohol abuse for years, generated rejection not only among Democrats, but also among Republican senators such as Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, who positioned themselves against his appointment in the Senate.
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Hegseth’s record on the professional front has also come under scrutiny.
During his leadership of veterans organizations such as Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, he was accused of using funds for personal purposes, as well as ignoring internal allegations of misconduct, including alleged cases of sexual harassment within the teams he led.
Despite this record and after a long uncertainty, Hegseth finally achieved confirmation in the Senate thanks to the support of the Republicans most loyal to Donald Trump.
His questioned vision of the army
The appointment of Pete Hegseth was also questioned for his ideological vision and his positions on the future of the US military.
Hegseth has been an outspoken critic of inclusion policies in the armed forces, believing that women’s participation in combat and diversity policies have weakened military effectiveness.
In public statements and in his book The War on Warriors (2024), Hegseth stated that the presence of women in combat roles “complicates the dynamics on the battlefield” and that men, due to biological factors, are better suited for these roles.
These views were criticized by human rights groups and equality advocates in the military, who believe they perpetuate gender stereotypes.
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The new Secretary of Defense has also expressed his opposition to the participation of transgender people in the armed forces, arguing that they generate “logistical complications” and that prioritizing social issues over military readiness affects the cohesion of the troops.
Hegseth has defended the need to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, calling them “discriminatory,” contrary to traditional values and deterrents to the “young patriots” who have historically nourished the military ranks.
On the other hand, the new leader of the Pentagon takes on the challenge of maintaining the trust of international allies in a global context marked by polarization in the field of defense, with NATO and its allies on the one hand facing Russia, China and their partners.
Hegseth’s criticism of institutions such as NATO, which he described as “obsolete” and dependent on the United States, could further strain relations with strategic partners, especially in Europe, according to experts.
Some also predict that his nationalist approach could reconfigure the Pentagon’s priorities toward a more isolationist foreign policy at a time when the military cohesion of the Western bloc is more necessary than ever.
Image source, Getty Images
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