‘WHO?’ Some Republican senators were surprised by Trump’s defense choices

Some Republican senators expressed surprise, saying they had little knowledge of who President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is.

“Wow,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, after Trump announced former National Guard member and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his pick for the top job.

“I’m just surprised because the names I’ve heard for secretary of defense haven’t included him,” Murkowski said.

Trump on Tuesday called Hegseth, 44, “tough, smart and a true believer in America First.”

Some senators did not know who Hegseth is or much about him.

“WHO?” Late. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said when asked about the election. “I don’t know Pete. I just don’t know anything about him.”

Any pick for defense secretary must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be under Republican control, according to NBC News forecasts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called Hegseth a “good choice.”

“Pete brings a lot to the table. He has experience and I think he will be reform-minded in the areas that need reform,” Johnson said.

Late. Rep. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, expressed confidence. “I think he will be a very strong defense minister,” she said.

Late. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said, “I was surprised I didn’t hear his name mentioned.”

“But there have also been several people’s names that have come out of left field,” Mullin said. “This is where President Trump is really good at putting people in their place.”

Late. Ted Budd, RN.C., called Hegseth “an impressive individual” and predicted there would be no problem confirming him in the Senate.

“Look, there are a lot of good opportunities, and I’m certainly going to support President Trump and his agenda and his nominees,” Budd said. He said he believes Hegseth is qualified and “knows how to put a great team around him.”

Late. Mike Rounds, RS.D., also said he was surprised by the election, but that Trump has done “an excellent job” in his elections.

“I don’t want to be negative right now because I want to learn more about his background and, you know, and his approach to this so he’ll go through the regular process,” Rounds said.

Hegseth is a combat veteran who was a captain in the Army National Guard. He served overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

He began working at Fox News in 2014 and co-hosted “Fox & Friends Weekend” in 2017, the network reported. His last day at Fox News was Tuesday, the day of Trump’s announcement, the network said.