Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican representative from Illinois who has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump, expressed concerns over the selection of Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary, calling it “weird.”
He suggested that Trump’s choice was driven by Hegseth’s loyalty and his association with Fox News. In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Kinzinger stated, “Obviously, it’s weird, and there’s only one reason he’s doing it, because he’s on Fox News.”
Concerns arise over Hegseth’s ability to balance loyalty and leadership
However, Kinzinger did acknowledge Hegseth’s qualifications, noting his expertise in defense policy. “He actually is very smart when it comes to things like defense policy,” Kinzinger said.
Despite this praise, Kinzinger questioned how Hegseth would perform in such a critical role. He wondered if Hegseth’s actions would be driven by his loyalty to Trump or if he would bring the strategic mindset he demonstrated in his military career. “But the question is, what kind of Pete Hegseth is going to show up? That one or is it going to be the Pete Hegseth that’s on Fox News that just tries to be loyal to Donald Trump?” Kinzinger asked.
When discussing the challenges of running the Department of Defense, Kinzinger highlighted the immense responsibility involved. “I mean, it’s massively difficult, especially for somebody that really doesn’t have experience in running an organization like that,” he said. “You better know what you’re doing because otherwise you’re gonna get swallowed up in that bureaucracy.”
