Trump's Defense Secretary Pick Faces Criticism Over Confederate Base Name Comments

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, has repeatedly called for restoring Confederate names to U.S. military bases, a move requiring congressional approval.

• Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, has consistently opposed the renaming of U.S. military bases that previously honored Confederate generals.
• Hegseth has described the renaming efforts, completed between 2022 and 2023 under the National Defense Authorization Act, as an erasure of military tradition and part of a progressive agenda.
• He has publicly advocated for reverting base names such as Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) to their Confederate origins, emphasizing the importance of preserving generational links and legacy.
• Hegseth’s confirmation hearings are set to begin on Tuesday, where his past comments and positions on cultural and social issues within the military are expected to draw scrutiny.
• While Hegseth cannot unilaterally change base names, he could lobby Congress to support such actions if confirmed as defense secretary.

3 Articles

The Daily Beast The New Republic CNN