By America-Today.  November,14 2024

WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked as his secretary of

defense Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran who has expressed disdain for so-called

"woke" policies of Pentagon leaders, opposed women in combat roles, and questioned whether the top

American general was in his position because of his skin color.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Hegseth could make good on Trump's campaign promises to rid the U.S.

military of generals who he accuses of pursuing progressive policies on diversity in the ranks that

conservatives have rallied against.

It could also set up a collision course between Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air

Force General C.Q. Brown, a former fighter pilot with command experience in the Pacific and the Middle

East, who Hegseth accused of "pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians."

Hegseth, who has little management experience, will be in charge of 1.3 million active-duty service

members and the nearly 1 million civilians who work for the military.