Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, was harshly critical of the former and future president in the past, once referring to him as an “armchair tough guy.”
Hegseth made the comment in a Fox News clip in 2016 and also took a dig at Trump for his military deferments, according to the clip unearth by CNN’s KFILE.
“It’s typical Trump: all bluster, very little substance. He talks a tough game, but when pressed on it, he’s an armchair tough guy,” Hegseth said during the segment. “I hate to say it. But this is a guy who said that John McCain—he’s not a war hero, yet he sought his own five military deferments.”
Hegseth also criticized Trump for saying that he got his military advice from people in the media.
“You wouldn’t want a top-tier presidential candidate getting all of their military advice from watching ‘Meet the Press.’ There’s a lot more nuance. There’s a lot more detail,” Hegseth said in August 2015. “Foreign policy, national security is not about TV shows. [The campaign is] going to have to walk back a little bit from this idea that he gets it from the political shows.”
Trump nominated Hegseth to serve as defense secretary in his second administration, though he faces several scandals that could potentially ruin his chances of confirmation.
Hegseth is accused of sexual assault, mismanaging two veterans organizations, and abusing alcohol.
On top of that, Hegseth’s mother sent him an email raising concerns about his treatment of women and urging him to seek help.
Hegseth is also facing backlash for saying women should not serve in combat roles and his plan to purge what he calls “woke” policy and leadership at the Pentagon.
