From Foreign Policy · Emma Ashford · · 1m 50s
Pete Hegseth's Unseen Power
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reshapes Trump administration's military strategy despite early doubts.
In brief
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reshapes Trump administration's military strategy despite early doubts. Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior official in Trump's administration by reshaping military culture and policy, despite initial dismissal as a 'drunken buffoon'. Originally reported by Foreign…
Pete Hegseth's rise
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior official in the Trump administration.
“the secretary of defense is now the most influential senior official in the trump administration”
Early predictions
Most analysts predicted Hegseth would be an ineffective or empty suit in the Trump administration.
“many assumed he’d simply be an empty suit”
Hegseth's background
Hegseth had a military background as a junior officer but no Pentagon experience.
“he had a military background, but only as a junior officer”
Fox News connection
Hegseth's primary qualification for the defense secretary role was his extended stint as a host of Fox and Friends.
“in trump’s eyes, his primary qualification for the job was his extended stint as a host of fox and friends”
Early struggles
Hegseth fired senior defense officials over leaks and faced criticism for his leadership style.
“he fired several senior defense officials, accusing them of leaking sensitive information”
Internal culture war
Hegseth led a campaign to block military leaders benefiting from diversity programs.
“he has intervened directly to block military leaders that he felt were the beneficiaries of such programs”
Promotion purges
Hegseth blocked promotions of 10 percent of the military’s top officers.
“he has either fired or blocked the promotions of around 10 percent of the military’s top officers”
Iran war influence
Hegseth persuaded Trump that the Iran war would be quick, sharp, and decisive.
“he has been instrumental in persuading the president that this war would be quick, sharp, and decisive”
Rules of engagement
Hegseth loosened military rules of engagement to reduce concerns about collateral damage.
“there should be no stupid rules of engagement and no politically correct wars”
Military culture shifts
Hegseth pushed to bar transgender troops from serving and questioned female soldiers in combat.
“he has attempted to bar transgender troops from serving and openly questioned whether female soldiers should be permitted in combat”
State of the Force
Hegseth's State of the Force speech will highlight military changes to physical fitness and grooming standards.
“his state of the force speech will offer him another opportunity to highlight the drastic changes he has made in how the american military approaches recruiting, training, and even combat”
Trump's connection
Trump sees himself in Hegseth's culture war posturing and media challenges.
“trump sees himself in hegseth”
Long-term costs
Hegseth's policies weaken U.S. military readiness and strategic posture long-term.
“his disastrous war against iran has already left the u.s. poorer and our defense posture in asia and elsewhere weaker”
Current influence
Despite early dismissal, Hegseth remains the most influential official in Trump's administration.
“he remains ascendant”
The bottom line
Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior official in Trump's administration by reshaping military culture and policy, despite initial dismissal as a 'drunken buffoon'.
