Senior commanders react to Trump’s new cabinet picks | CNN Politics
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Within minutes of President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth as his selection for Secretary of Defense, current and former senior military commanders began messaging and calling me with their reactions. “Ridiculous,” said one. “An effing (euphemism inserted) nightmare,” said another. To be clear, these were not partisans, but senior commanders who have served under both Presidents Trump and Joe Biden.

Summary

Trump’s selection of Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary has alarmed senior military commanders, who fear Trump’s appointments indicate a shift toward an “America First” foreign policy with lasting impacts.

Trump’s approach emphasizes loyalty over experience and a transactional view of alliances, suggesting possible withdrawal from NATO, reduced support for Ukraine, and uncertainty over commitments to allies like Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

This strategy, reminiscent of pre-WWII isolationism, could undermine the US-led global order and potentially trigger a nuclear arms race as allies consider self-defense measures.