President-elect Trump nominates Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense
Pete Hegseth has been selected by President-elect Trump to serve as his secretary of defense.
“I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense. Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said in a statement.
Hegseth’s last day at Fox, where he co-hosted Sunday’s “FOX & Friends Weekend,” was Tuesday. Hegseth started with FOX News as a contributor in 2014 and was named the co-host of “FOX & Friends Weekend” in 2017. He began co-hosting the show on a regular basis in late 2016 and was officially named to the role in January 2017.
“Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on ‘FOX & Friends’ and FOX Nation and a bestselling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade,” a spokesperson for FOX News Media said in a statement. “His insights and analysis, especially about the military, resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”
TRUMP’S PICKS SO FAR: HERE’S WHO WILL BE ADVISING THE NEW PRESIDENT
Hegseth, an Army National Gaurd veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has hosted the FOX Nation “Patriot Awards” since 2019, which is the network’s version of a Hollywood awards show honoring heroes like first responders.
The Patriot Awards are scheduled for Dec. 5 in Brookville, New York. Hegseth will not be hosting the show.
Hegseth also hosted the popular FOX Nation specials “Poison Ivy” and “The Miseducation of America.” Most recently, Hegseth wrote the FOX News Books bestseller “War on Warriors,” which has sold nearly 150,000 copies since it debuted in June 2024 and shot to No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
He is also the author of the FOX News Books bestseller “Modern Warriors,” which also debuted as a New York Times bestseller in 2020.
Hegseth has repeatedly advocated for military veterans and championed veteran and military causes. While serving in the Army, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, awarded to infantry soldiers who participate in active combat.
TRUMP SELECTS SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM TO RUN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump said. “Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”
Upon hearing the news of Hegseth’s nomination, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said, “Really? I’d have to think about it.”
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., also weighed in as he was leaving the GOP Senate leader candidate forum.
“I was sitting next to two Marines, so they were thinking it was great,” he said. “And, yeah, we’re looking forward to it. I want to get to know him better in that role.”
Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran who was selected to be Trump’s national security adviser, praised the selection.
“The Pentagon is in need of real reform, and they’re getting a leader who has the grit to make it happen,” he wrote on X. “Congratulations to my friend @PeteHegseth – a combat decorated veteran – and let’s re-establish deterrence through America’s strength!”
Speaking to reporters, Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., called Hegseth “an amazing individual.”
Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on the other hand, described Hegseth as unqualified to oversee the nation’s defense agencies.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense,” she wrote on X. “I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our servicemembers. Donald Trump’s pick will make us less safe and must be rejected.”
During Trump’s first term as president, five men served as his secretary of defense. They either resigned, were fired or served briefly as a stopgap.
Social media erupts following Jill Biden’s apparent cold shoulder for VP Harris at event
Social media erupted following what many characterized as first lady Jill Biden’s icy reception for Vice President Kamala Harris as the now-former Democratic presidential nominee took an adjacent seat at Arlington Cemetery on Tuesday.
Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff approached their row of seats from the first lady’s right as the vice president greeted and shook hands with those around her — except Biden.
“It’s safe to say that Jill Biden hates Kamala Harris’ guts,” conservative commentator Steve Cortes said while sharing a video snippet of the non-interaction.
As Harris took her seat, Biden appeared to look straight ahead through dark sunglasses.
BIDEN ADMIN HIT WITH FOIA SUIT SEEKING 25TH AMENDMENT-RELATED COMMS
“Jill Biden refused to even look at Kamala,” claimed the popular X account “End Wokeness.”
Journalist Andy Ngo shared a closer-up shot of the second family and first lady, describing Biden as “stone face[d]” and commenting that Harris supporters have been, in part, blaming President Biden for their candidate’s loss last Tuesday.
The interaction, or lack thereof, also received international media attention as Italian TV journalist Leonardo Panetta wrote on X in Italian that Harris was “ignored” by Biden after her defeat.
“Jill Biden… did not get up to greet her and then remained seated next to the vice president wearing sunglasses without deigning to look at her,” Panetta said. “Good climate in America.”
“They’re not taking the loss well,” remarked right-wing commentator Benny Arthur Johnson.
“Watch Jill Biden evidently give Kamala the cold shoulder as she arrives at Arlington National Cemetery. Kamala shook everyone’s hand before swiftly racing past Jill as the cameras were rolling.”
JILL BIDEN TELLS AZ COMMENCEMENT CROWD COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHOULD BE FREE IN AMERICA
Fellow commentator Dave Rubin added in a separate post that he hasn’t “seen two chicks that hated each other that much since Dorothy stole all the men at the Rusty Anchor from Blanche in season 7 of ‘The Golden Girls’.”
“Whoever seated them together hates them both,” one user replied to Rubin.
Conservative author David Harris Jr. suggested there appears to be a “rift” within the party following Harris’ blowout loss to President-elect Donald Trump.
The first and second families were at the Virginia cemetery to watch the president lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in remembrance of Veterans Day.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The first lady reportedly did greet Emhoff “enthusiastically,” according to a recounting by the Daily Mail, but she appeared more stoic when Harris arrived.
During the campaign, the first lady did campaign for Harris and spoke of how they bonded over the loss of close family members to cancer and other connections.
On Wednesday, the first lady will travel to her home region of Philadelphia to deliver remarks at a gala for the Philadelphia250 organization that is preparing to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial next year.
Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for the first lady, the White House and Harris’ office for comment.
GOP two wins away from House majority after winner called in CA battleground district
Incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao won re-election to the U.S. House in California’s 22nd Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. The highly contested race was considered to be a tossup.
Republican Gabe Evans was also declared the winner in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District on Tuesday night. Valadao and Evans’ victories now put the GOP two wins away from a majority in the House.
The breakdown currently stands at: 216 Republicans to 206 Democrats. There are still 13 races to be called as of Tuesday evening.
The congressional race was a high-stakes rematch between Valadao and Democratic challenger Rudy Salas. Valadao, who has represented the district since 2013 – except for one term from 2019-21 – is one of the few Republicans to have survived in a largely Democratic-leaning district the last few years. The district also has more registered Democrats than Republicans.
REMATCH SET BETWEEN GOP REP. VALADAO, DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER IN BATTLEGROUND CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Valadao is known for his moderate positions that sometimes go against the more conservative wing of his party. He voted to impeach former President Trump, which made him both a target of Trump allies and a key figure for Democrats seeking to flip the seat.
Salas, a former state assemblyman, sought to unseat Valadao after narrowly losing in 2022. Salas, who has strong ties to labor unions and the state’s agricultural workers, has aimed to mobilize the electorate in CA-22’s majority-Latino district, which encompasses parts of California’s Central Valley.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The 22nd District has faced significant challenges, including water shortages, illegal immigration issues and economic concerns. Both candidates boast deep local roots.
In 2022, Valadao beat Salas by less than 4,000 votes.
Fired FEMA worker claims Trump homes skipped under ‘avoidance’ policy
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor fired for instructing subordinates to skip over houses with Trump signs and banners now says her actions were consistent with agency guidance and were not isolated to her team alone.
The supervisor, Marn’i Washington, was fired by FEMA after outrage erupted that she had instructed disaster relief workers canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida, after Hurricane Milton to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
The Daily Wire first reported that government employees told the outlet at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were bypassed from the end of October into November due to “best practices” guidance from Washington. The houses were skipped over by the workers, who wrote messages such as “Trump sign no entry per leadership” in a government system, per the outlet.
On Saturday, FEMA’s administrator on employee misconduct, Deanne Criswell, confirmed to Fox News Digital that Washington had been fired and called her actions “reprehensible” and a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of political affiliation.
FEMA OFFICIAL SAID TO AVOID HOMES WITH TRUMP SIGNS: ‘TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED WOULD BE A LIE’
A FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Friday the agency was “deeply disturbed” by Washington’s actions but insisted it was an “isolated incident.”
The spokesperson said “the employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes, and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.”
Speaking on an episode of the “Roland Martin Unfiltered” podcast Monday, Washington said her instructions complied with FEMA protocol to avoid homes determined to be hostile or dangerous to workers.
“They all allege that these actions were made in my own recognizance and that it was for my own political advances. However, if you look at the record, there is what we call a ‘community trend,’ and, unfortunately, it just so happened that the political hostility that was encountered by my team … they just so happened to have the Trump campaign signage,” said Washington.
Washington claimed that her instructions were given after team members had been verbally and physically threatened by hurricane victims with signs in support of the former president. She said her instructions followed FEMA’s “avoidance” and de-escalation policy.
‘INSANE’: ‘FOX & FRIENDS WEEKEND’ CO-HOSTS REACT TO REPORT OF FEMA OFFICIAL’S POLITICAL BIAS
In contrast to FEMA’s assertion the incident was isolated, Washington said there were similar “avoidance” protocols in place not only in Florida but also in North Carolina.
“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know, but if you ask the DSA [disaster survivor assistance] crew leads and specialists what they are experiencing in the field, they will tell you,” she said. “FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated. This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
Last week, Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, called for a hearing on the incident to be held Nov. 19. Washington said she would welcome an investigation by Republicans in Congress.
“Please do [investigate]. They will find this is not isolated. I state this over and over again. This is colossal,” she said. “Demand for FEMA to give you those incident reports. They will substantiate what we are experiencing in the field.”
CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
FEMA responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by forwarding a Nov. 9 statement by Criswell condemning Washington’s actions.
“One FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” Criswell said in the statement. “I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA, and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.”
Trump’s election victory goes beyond his gains in competitive battleground states
President-elect Trump flipped six highly competitive states in his election victory last week. But his gains with voters were not limited to the battlegrounds.
Trump improved his vote share across the country, starting with conservative areas but extending into deeply Democratic states.
It is a critical part of the story of this election: one where Trump built a broader coalition and led on two defining issues of the campaign.
DONALD TRUMP ELECTED AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Trump gained in the battlegrounds and beyond, including traditionally Democratic areas
Trump gained in all seven of the battleground states. He gained 1.8 points in Michigan and Pennsylvania, 1.4 points in Georgia, just over a point in North Carolina, and under a point in Wisconsin.
(Trump’s largest gains are currently in Nevada and Arizona, two of ten states where there is significant vote left to count.)
But Trump’s best performances relative to 2020 were in reliably Democratic states. These states voted for Democrats, but by narrower margins than before.
His strongest improvement was in New York, where the former and future president gained 6.4 points.
His county-level gains were spread across the state, but notably included an improvement in all five of the New York City boroughs (where, again, there are some votes left to be counted).
EARLY VOTES TOP 84M IN 2024 ELECTION
He also posted a 5-point improvement in neighboring New Jersey, enough to reduce the margin of his loss to just 5.5 points. That is the best performance for a Republican candidate in more than three decades.
Look for New Jersey and Virginia (Trump +2.4 since 2020) to become a focal point in future elections, beginning with next year’s gubernatorial races.
Trump also took more vote share in Illinois (Trump +4.2 since 2020); another Democratic state with a highly populated urban area.
And as some pre-election polls predicted, the president-elect brought home another five points worth of votes in Florida, where Democrats fought hard for a victory just two cycles ago.
Just as he improved in the battlegrounds and left-leaning states, he also put up strong gains in states like Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Idaho. Trump posted a 3-point improvement in all four of those conservative states, with smaller improvements in over a dozen more.
In fact, as of this writing, there isn’t a single state in the country where Trump turned in a weaker performance than he did four years ago.
ELECTION NIGHT WINNERS AND LOSERS: 2024 EDITION
Harris’ gains limited to a handful of disparate areas
So far, Harris has only outperformed President Biden’s vote share in one state: Utah, where she gained 0.6 points since the last election.
But even in Utah, Trump also performed about a point better than he did in 2020. It’s third party candidates who saw the most erosion. (And there are many ballots left to count.)
To find positives for Harris, you have to search for a smattering of counties across the nation.
The Vice President did between 2-9 points better in a few counties in the Georgia metropolitan area, led by Henry, Rockdale and Douglas.
She also improved in some of the North Carolina counties most impacted by Hurricane Helene, particularly Democratic-leaning Buncombe, but also Henderson and Transylvania. She posted about a 4-point gain in each.
Kaufman County, in the Dallas suburbs, also bucked the national trend. That Texas county swung about 6 points towards Harris.
AMERICANS WANT TO SEE TRUMP ADDRESS ECONOMY, INFLATION UPON RETURN TO WHITE HOUSE
Harris posted a modest gain in Chaffee County, Colorado, otherwise known as the “Heart of the Rockies” (here, too, there are some outstanding ballots).
And there are signs that parts of Oregon and Washington could end up more Democratic than 2020 when counting is finished.
These are the exceptions to a clear rule: voters almost uniformly swung away from the Democrats this cycle.
Trump created a broader coalition and led on the top two issues
The Fox News Voter Analysis shows that Trump’s gains came from multiple groups, and that voters preferred him on two defining issues.
As the Polling Unit writes:
Trump’s victory was powered by his strength on the economy and immigration – two of voters’ top concerns. He was seen as a stronger leader than Harris in a time of turmoil, and voters remembered his presidency more fondly than their evaluations of the current administration. Trump ran up the score with his base while narrowing traditional Democratic advantages among Black, Hispanic, and young voters.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The complete Fox News Voter Analysis is available on FoxNews.com.
Former NFL star has a message for Americans criticizing Trump supporters
In a time of divisiveness following the election, a former NFL quarterback is trying to play peacemaker.
Robert Griffin III posted on X last week that “Black Men do support Black Women” after MSNBC host Joe Scarborough called out “misogyny from Black men.”
“Stop tearing down and blaming black men for everything under the sun when it comes to Black Women,” the former Baylor star wrote on X.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
On Tuesday, one week post Donald Trump’s victory, Griffin again preached unification, this time calling out those who are quick to lambaste Trump supporters.
“Dear America, this is a safe space. Calling any of the 75 Million Americans who voted for Donald Trump bigots is not how you unite people,” Griffin posted on X. “How would you build a community where Black, White, Native American, Hispanic, Asian and all people celebrate their unique cultural backgrounds and beliefs without divisiveness?”
Democrats and anti-Trump critics spouted every type of analysis to try to pinpoint the reason Harris failed to win the White House nearly four months after she was appointed to take President Biden’s place in the presidential race after he dropped out.
Simultaneously, many Harris supporters on social media are unfollowing or cutting off those who voted for Trump in his third run for president.
Griffin criticized Trump and President Biden during their first debate on CNN June 27.
“My God, this Presidential debate proves that we need younger presidential candidates,” Griffin wrote on X that night.
Griffin, though, said he felt Trump won the election upon the first assassination attempt on his life.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Hey man, I don’t really care how much you love or hate President Donald Trump. Now is not the time to play politics. Now’s the time to pray for Donald Trump, his family and the families of those who lost someone in the shooting. We got people out here who are so focused on the fact that they think that this assassination attempt was staged, and they are forgetting about the fact that someone died,” Griffin said in a video shortly after the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally.