Pete Hegseth, then a Fox News contributor, visits the 138th Fighter Wing in 2017. Photo: Drew A. Egnoske/DVIDS
For a man who’s courted so much controversy, whose first name became a conservative chorus on X and whose nomination prompted questions of “Who?!” at happy hours, Pete Hegseth’s public views on China, Russia and defense tech are pretty standard. The big picture: President Trump is disruptor in chief. His picks for key posts are unorthodox; his flurry of fiats, some targeting U.S. troops, are catching backlash.
• But Hegseth — a combat veteran, former Fox News personality and now defense secretary — toes the line on the “pacing challenge,” the “acute threat” and other governmentese.
Here’s what written testimony, submitted to Congress ahead of the historic 51-50 vote, reveals about his geopolitics and weapons thinking.
China: The potential seizure of Taiwan, a “fait accompli,” should motivate U.S. military modernization. Guam is a linchpin for Indo-Pacific success. Collaborating with Japan will pay deterrence dividends.
Russia: Despite sanctions and other constraints, its war machine still packs a punch. Moscow’s digital subterfuge and Arctic ambitions “are particularly acute.” The invasion of Ukraine is “settling into a war of attrition.”
Iran: The regime, which props up violent proxies, creeps closer to nuclear weapons. Its missile and drone arsenal demands countermeasures. The U.S. should help Israel defend itself.
North Korea: An “intense focus” on missile development, hacking gains and nuclear arms is concerning. Its “space capabilities” must be monitored. Missile defense needs beefing up closer to home.
Nukes: A triad is a necessity. Full stop. And full steam ahead on the Sentinel nuclear missile, B-21 Raider and the Columbia-class submarine. Partnering with the National Nuclear Security Administration is of highest priority. NNSA labs, plants and sites want for dramatic renovations.
Doing business: The Pentagon is thinking too narrowly; it should look beyond Cold War suppliers. Places like the Office of Strategic Capital and Defense Innovation Unit are oases. Delayed, over-budget projects require a “thorough review.”
Army upgrades: Wars abroad underline the value of cyber, autonomy and precision fires.
Next Generation Air Dominance: A careful review will come. (Punt.)
Shipbuilding: The U.S. must up its game. Navy leadership should develop a “shipbuilding road map to increase our capacity” and remove supply chain chokepoints.
Yes, but: His takes on women’s role in combat, ousting “woke” generals and takedown of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been cast inside and outside Congress as far more radical.
• One of Hegseth’s first posts on X as defense secretary included a photo with a handwritten note: “DOD =/= DEI.”
What’s next: Hegseth promised to delegate day-to-day matters to his yet-to-be-confirmed deputy. Trump picked billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg for that post.
• Meantime, the potential Army, Navy and Air Force secretaries (Dan Driscoll, John Phelan and Troy Meink) await their hearings and votes.
Go deeper: Trump’s Pentagon pick wants to “Make America Lethal Again”