Trump’s Pick of Fox Host Pete Hegseth to Lead Pentagon Shocks Lawmaker: ‘Exactly What We Warned About’

News of President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense has sent shockwaves through political circles. Representative Dan Goldman, a New York lawmaker who served as lead attorney for House Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment, expressed dismay over the choice, calling it a confirmation of his worst fears about Trump’s approach to governance.

“I’m shocked, truly,” Goldman told CNN anchor Erin Burnett on Tuesday night, moments after the announcement. “It’s exactly what we worried about and we warned about with Donald Trump.” Goldman highlighted concerns that Trump would appoint “unqualified loyalists” to key government roles, potentially transforming the federal administration into his “own personal fiefdom.”

Goldman emphasized the potential risks of such appointments, particularly in national security roles. “I appreciate Mr. Hegseth’s service in our armed forces,” Goldman said, “but being a serviceman does not make you qualified to lead the Department of Defense and to have access to our nuclear weapons.” Expressing deep concern, he added, “I’m very disturbed by this, and I’m very concerned about what it demonstrates about Donald Trump’s priorities, which now seem to be coming true as many of us warned”, told Daily Mail.

Goldman’s concerns aren’t solely based on Hegseth’s professional qualifications; he is also alarmed by Hegseth’s unwavering support for Trump over the years. Burnett aired a 2019 clip of Hegseth defending Trump, in which Hegseth stated, “God has used imperfect people forever because we’re all imperfect. But what he has withstood is unlike what any other mortal could understand.”

The comment, which aired even before January 6, 2021, reflects Hegseth’s steadfast loyalty to Trump. Referring to the clip, Goldman noted it came before Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the allegations that he attempted to hide classified information at his Mar-a-Lago estate. “We have this person,” Goldman said, “who was out there before January 6, before Trump’s attempts to retain classified information in his bathroom and refused to give it back while he was having phone conversations with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin.”

Goldman described Hegseth as a “sycophant” for Trump, adding, “He’s been his biggest cheerleader on Fox News, the biggest cheerleading network.” Goldman also voiced grave concerns about national security implications, particularly Hegseth’s proximity to the control of nuclear weapons. “That is not what makes one qualified to be a Cabinet secretary and Secretary of Defense,” Goldman argued. “It’s very dangerous for national security that a ‘Fox News host has got his finger on nuclear weapons.’”

Goldman’s criticisms echo concerns among other Trump critics who fear that Hegseth’s loyalty to Trump, rather than his experience or qualifications, influenced the nomination. The decision has heightened anxieties about Trump’s vision for his Cabinet, particularly as he selects individuals known for their personal loyalty rather than their policy expertise.

As Trump’s second term Cabinet choices take shape, Goldman’s comments underscore a broader worry: that critical national security roles are being filled by individuals chosen for their personal allegiance to Trump rather than their credentials. For many, the decision marks an unsettling turn, reinforcing fears of a presidency driven more by loyalty than by qualifications, especially in one of the most consequential positions in the U.S. government.