Updated 13:05 IST, January 25th 2025
Who Is Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's New Defense Secretary?
Peter Brian Hegseth was born in Minneapolis on June 6, 1980, and grew up in Forest Lake. He played football and basketball at Forest Lake Area High School.

Pete Hegseth has been appointed as the Secretary of Defence by US President Donald Trump. The US Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in Hegseth's favour. The former military veteran and Fox TV presenter is the 29th official to be appointed as the secretary of defence.
Who Is Pete Hegseth?
Peter Brian Hegseth was born in Minneapolis on June 6, 1980, and grew up in Forest Lake. He played football and basketball at Forest Lake Area High School and graduated as valedictorian in 1999.
He got his Bachelor of Arts at Princeton University where he studied politics and played college basketball.
Hegseth went on to study public policy at the Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, earning a Master's.
Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Minnesota National Guard. He served at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba and later in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Minnesota National Guard. He has received numerous awards for his service.
Hegseth's military awards include two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB).
Who Is Pete Hegseth : Political Career
In 2012, Hegseth formed MN PAC, a political action committee. However, APM Reports found a third of MN PAC's funds were spent on Christmas parties for families and friends, expenditures not allowed under Minnesota's campaign finance laws. APM Reports also found less than half of the PAC's resources were used for candidates. In March 2018, the PAC closed its account with the state.
In 2012, Hegseth ran for the Republican nomination for the US Senate in Minnesota, but withdrew before the Republican party primary in August.
In 2014, he took on a significant role in Minnesota politics, becoming Finance Chair for the Minnesota Republican Party, leading the party's finance efforts.
Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014. He is currently a host of "FOX & Friends Weekend."
He has authored five books, including the New York Times best-seller The War on Warriors (2024).
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Published 13:05 IST, January 25th 2025