Overview

• Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, has called for dismantling NATO and criticized the United Nations as anti-American and anti-Israel.
• Hegseth has advocated for ignoring the Geneva Conventions, urging the U.S. military to adopt a 'ruthless' approach to warfare and 'win wars according to our own rules.'
• He has tied U.S. foreign policy heavily to support for Israel, framing it as central to a broader 'American crusade' with religious and nationalist undertones.
• Hegseth's rhetoric includes inflammatory statements likening current global conflicts to medieval crusades and urging conservatives to 'mock, humiliate, intimidate, and crush' domestic opponents.
• Critics argue his nomination reflects a broader alignment with Christian nationalist ideology and raises questions about the future of U.S. alliances and adherence to international law.