Kaylee McGhee White of the Washington Examiner defended President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, responding to criticism surrounding Hegseth’s views on the military. White argued that Hegseth’s assessment of the U.S. military, particularly his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, is valid and necessary.
Hegseth, a veteran and Fox News anchor, has faced criticism for his stance against the military’s embrace of DEI programs, which have been a contentious issue in recent years.
Jim Kessler, former policy director for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), has argued that his opposition to Hegseth is not based on the DEI criticism but on Hegseth’s perceived lack of qualifications for the role, citing his limited experience.
White, who also serves as an editor for Restoring America, countered by asserting that the Pentagon is “legitimately scared” of Hegseth’s approach. She pointed to the U.S. military’s $86 billion spending on DEI initiatives, which she believes are detrimental to the armed forces. Citing her own family experience,
White explained that her brother, a Navy veteran, found it offensive to be required to participate in training that focused on issues like “white rage” and “white supremacy.” White stated that Hegseth’s mission to eliminate such initiatives was “a very noble aim” and a key reason for the opposition to his nomination.
Additionally, White referenced the Biden administration’s controversial changes to Title IX, calling it a “total rewrite” and arguing that voters had rejected those changes by voting for Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris. She also noted the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Title IX rewrite earlier this year.
When Kessler suggested that the Democratic Party needed to reevaluate its position to avoid losing future elections, he also questioned the potential nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General due to ongoing controversies. White responded, suggesting that Kessler direct such questions to voters to better understand their preferences.
In response to repeated accusations about his tattoos being linked to white nationalism, Hegseth defended himself, explaining that a tattoo reading “Deus Vult” (Latin for “God wills it”) was misinterpreted.
He was temporarily removed from National Guard duty during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 because of the tattoo, despite the phrase having historical Christian significance. Hegseth has also strongly denied sexual assault allegations, with Trump’s transition team standing by him and emphasizing Hegseth’s qualifications for the position.