Former Pence adviser: Don’t underestimate Hegseth
Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, affirmed President-elect Trump’s decision to appoint Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense on Wednesday.
“Pete served 20 years. He was awarded the Bronze Star twice in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s somebody that I got to know when he was running Concerned Veterans for America,” Short said during an MSNBC appearance highlighted by Mediaite.
“I think people too quickly underestimate Pete, and I think this is a welcome change for a lot of people who want to see a change at the Pentagon,” Short added.
Trump has faced criticism from former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who credited the appointment to Hegseth’s position as a Fox News host.
“The secretary of Defense is someone who oversees the men and women serving around the world. It’s not about someone who is good on TV and who is fighting woke or cultural issues,” Psaki argued.
Trump’s former aide Peter Navarro questioned other aspects of Hegseth’s selection, including his ability to get confirmed under newly elected Senate majority leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
“If John Thune or John Cornyn get control of the Senate, like Mitch McConnell did, we’re not going to have a Trump Cabinet,” Navarro said Tuesday.
Regardless, Short said he thinks Hegseth will do just fine.
“I think Pete will present himself well in a confirmation hearing,” he said. “So let’s let it play out.”
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