Trump nominates Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary

President-elect Donald Trump stunned political observers Tuesday night when he nominated Fox News star Pete Hegseth to be defense secretary.

“Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country,” Trump, 78, said in a statement. “Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on guard – our military will be great again and America will never back down.”

The selection of Hegseth is an unorthodox choice from a field of candidates that included Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who gained traction in military circles for his close work with the Pentagon on defense legislation; House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.); and former Democrat and Republican Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a member of the Army National Guard like Hegseth.

Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been with the cable news giant since 2014, most recently as co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation for nearly a decade and a bestselling author for FOX News Books,” a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement. “His insights and analysis, particularly on the military, resonated with our viewers and made the show the huge success it is today. We are very proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”

The 44-year-old was considered for the position of Veterans Affairs secretary after Trump’s election in 2016, but that job ultimately went to David Shulkin.

This is a developing story. Please check back for further updates.