Donald Trump’s new Defence Secretary once hit a drummer with an axe on live television.
Decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth, 44, was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and won two Bronze Stars, then unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News as a presenter.
But it has emerged that the Pentagon’s new Defence chief once accidentally hit ceremonial drummer Jeff Prosperie while taking part in an axe-throwing competition on the Fox and Friends show on 2015.
Footage showed the axe hitting Mr Prosperie, before he staggered away.
He appeared not to be too badly hurt at the time, but three years later he sued Fox over injuries he said he suffered.
Mr Prosperie alleged that “Mr Hegseth negligently attempted to throw an axe at a target” and that he “negligently placed in an area” that put him “in the path of peril.”
Fox said in response that the 2018 lawsuit was “surprising”.
The company said: “The incident involving Jeff Prosperie from 2015 was unfortunate and completely unintentional.
FOX News immediately apologized to Prosperie and offered medical assistance, which he declined saying he was ‘okay.’
“The network also offered compensation, which he declined as well. We have not heard from Prosperie”.
It is believed the case was later settled.
Appointing him to his cabinet, Mr Trump said: “Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First.
“With Pete at the helm, America´s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.
“Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our `Peace through Strength´ policy.”
A spokesperson for Fox News Media added: “Pete Hegseth has been an exceptional host on FOX & Friends and FOX Nation and a best-selling author for FOX News Books for nearly a decade.
“His insights and analysis especially about the military resonated deeply with our viewers and made the program the major success that it is today. We are extremely proud of his work at FOX News Media and wish him the best of luck in Washington.”
Hegseth has been a co-host of Fox News Channel´s ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.
He was an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and served overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Hegseth was formerly head of the Concerned Veterans for America, a group backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch.
He is also the author of ‘The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.’
The book combines ‘his own war experiences, tales of outrage, and an incisive look at how the chain of command got so kinked,’ and bills itself as ‘the key to saving our warriors – and winning future wars.’
While the Pentagon is considered a key coveted post in any administration, the defence secretary was a tumultuous post during Trump´s first term.
Five men held the job during his four years only to resign, be fired or serve briefly as a stopgap. Just two of them were actually confirmed by the Senate.
