Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Profile of the Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump’s second administration
Last updated: 21 November 2025
Summary
Pete Hegseth serves as Secretary of Defense in the second administration of Donald J. Trump. His appointment marked a striking move from media personality and advocacy work into the top civilian position at the Pentagon. Supporters present him as a combat veteran who will restore a hard line on readiness, discipline and patriotism. Critics argue that his limited large scale management experience, his public embrace of culture war themes and a series of personal and ethical controversies make him an unusually polarising figure in the role.
This profile summarises his background, policy orientation, and the major controversies that have shaped public debate about his leadership of the Department of Defense. Allegations described here are drawn from reporting and public records and are not criminal findings unless otherwise noted.
Background and rise
Peter Brian Hegseth was born in 1980 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Forest Lake. After graduating from Princeton University, he joined the Army National Guard and later earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. His military service included deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served as an infantry officer and civil affairs officer. He received several commendations, including multiple Bronze Star medals and a Combat Infantryman Badge, and attained the rank of major.
Alongside his military career, Hegseth became active in conservative veterans’ politics. He served as chief executive of Concerned Veterans for America, a Koch network backed group that advocated for changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs and promoted a small government approach to veterans’ policy. He also made an unsuccessful run for the United States Senate in Minnesota.
Hegseth’s national profile grew further when he joined Fox News as a commentator and later as a co host of Fox and Friends Weekend. He became known for strong criticism of what he described as “woke” trends in the military, for defending service members accused of war crimes, and for arguing that efforts to root out extremism inside the ranks were politically motivated. His books, including The War on Warriors, reinforced that message and helped frame him as a prominent voice in conservative debates about the armed forces.
Trump’s decision to nominate Hegseth as Secretary of Defense after the 2024 election drew on that profile. The nomination immediately provoked concern among many defence analysts and former officials who questioned both his management experience and his public record.
Role and influence in the administration
As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth leads a department with a budget approaching one trillion dollars and responsibility for the United States military worldwide. He has pledged to rebuild what he calls the “warrior ethos,” to reverse diversity and inclusion initiatives he views as ideological, and to focus the department on great power competition, particularly with China.
Public reporting indicates that Hegseth has removed or reassigned several senior officials seen as aligned with prior administrations’ priorities, and has sought to concentrate decision making among a relatively small group of trusted advisers. He has also emphasised closer coordination between the Pentagon and other parts of the administration on border security, energy policy and industrial strategy, arguing that all of these issues have direct national security implications.
In media appearances, Hegseth presents himself as a direct speaking combat veteran determined to challenge what he views as bureaucratic complacency and political correctness in the defence establishment. Critics respond that such rhetoric risks undermining civilian military norms and the nonpartisan culture that the Pentagon has traditionally tried to maintain.
Policy priorities and orientation
Hegseth’s policy stance is rooted in several themes that predate his time at the Pentagon.
First, he has been sharply critical of attempts to track and discipline extremist sympathies among service members. Prior to taking office he described these efforts as part of a “witch hunt” against conservatives. As Secretary of Defense he has scaled back some training and oversight programs created after the 6 January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, arguing that existing military law is sufficient.
Second, he has pushed to reverse or curtail diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the services, contending that they distract from war fighting. Supporters argue that this will improve morale and readiness. Opponents say it risks alienating minority service members and undermining recruitment.
Third, he stresses hard power and deterrence. Reporting on his confirmation hearing highlighted his call for increased spending on the Indo Pacific region and missile defences, coupled with a willingness to use force decisively if deterrence fails.
Finally, he has tied defence policy to broader nationalist themes, including energy security, reshoring of defence supply chains and scepticism toward long term nation building missions abroad.
Controversies and criticism
Hegseth’s tenure has been overshadowed by a series of controversies, many of which emerged during his nomination process.
A key line of scrutiny involves a police report and subsequent coverage detailing allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman after a Republican women’s conference in California in 2017. Reporting by national outlets described an investigation, a later non disclosure agreement and a payment to the woman. Hegseth has denied wrongdoing and maintains that the encounter was consensual, but the allegations and the NDA have remained central to criticism of his nomination and confirmation.
In 2024 and 2025, further reporting described plans to release the accuser from the NDA so she could speak publicly. Senators compared the situation to past judicial confirmation battles, arguing that credible allegations should be fully aired before final votes.
Hegseth has also drawn intense attention for his tattoos, including a Jerusalem cross on his chest and the Latin phrase “Deus vult” on his arm. “Deus vult” was historically associated with the Crusades and has been adopted by some far right and white nationalist groups. Detailed reporting and analysis pieces have argued that, when combined with other symbols, these tattoos send an implicit Christian nationalist or crusader message. Hegseth rejects that interpretation and calls the criticism anti Christian bigotry. At least one service member in the District of Columbia National Guard flagged the tattoo as a concern, and reporting indicates that he was barred from an inauguration security assignment on that basis before leaving the Guard. Subsequent coverage of an additional tattoo reading “kafir” in Arabic has raised concerns among some Muslim organisations.
Civil liberties and extremism experts interviewed in several pieces have warned that placing an official with this public symbolism and record in charge of a department grappling with its own extremism problem sends a problematic signal.
More broadly, current and former defence officials quoted in national media have questioned his preparation for running an organisation as complex as the Pentagon. They point to his limited experience in senior management roles and his history of using media platforms to attack military leadership. Supporters argue that his outsider status is an asset and that his combat record and advocacy work show a genuine commitment to service members.
Public image and outlook
Public views of Hegseth as Secretary of Defense are sharply divided along partisan lines. Many conservative voters see him as a forthright veteran pushing back against what they regard as politicisation and ideological capture of the military. Many critics, including some within the defence community, regard him as a political loyalist whose appointment reflects loyalty to Trump and cultural alignment more than traditional qualifications.
His long term legacy will depend on whether his tenure leads to measurable improvements in readiness, recruitment and alliance management, or whether controversies and internal turbulence dominate perceptions of his time at the Pentagon. Given the scale of the department he leads, the consequences of his decisions will likely be felt well beyond the current administration.
Sources
The Guardian — “Police report details sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth”
Reuters — “Police report details 2017 sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth”
The Independent — “Pete Hegseth paid woman as part of NDA after she accused him of sexual assault”
The Guardian — “Pete Hegseth’s Arabic tattoo stirs controversy: ‘clear symbol of Islamophobia’”
New Lines Magazine — “Pete Hegseth’s tattoos and the crusading obsession of the far right”
Al Jazeera — “Fact check: What did Pete Hegseth say in his defense confirmation hearing?”
Miller Center — “Pete Hegseth (2025)”
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