Donald Trump has won praise from Dominic Cummings for selecting a pro-Brexit Fox News host as his new Secretary of Defence.
The President-elect announced the surprise pick last night, with reports emerging that the Pete Hegseth’s choice ‘stunned’ the Pentagon.
Mr Hegseth served in the US military, and was deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan winning two Bronze Stars.
He unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in Minnesota in 2012, before switching to become a Fox News presenter.
While at Fox he interviews, among others, Nigel Farage, showing a warmth to the Brexit campaigner that will suggest even stronger diplomatic relations between the Reform UK leader and the incoming US administration.
In a 2016 interview following Mr Trump’s first victory, Mr Hegseth praised Mr Farage, saying “we love having you here”.
He also called him a “man of history, no doubt”.
Mr Hegseth has now also received praise from the Brexit Vote Leave mastermind Dominic Cummings himself, saying the appointment suggests “America is healing”.
Mr Cummings highlighted a photo of the new US Defence Secretary wearing a pro-Brexit top, depicting George Washington and captioned “Brexit’d before it was cool”.
The former Downing Street chief of staff said Mr Hegseth is an “inspired choice who will purge the [Diversity, equality and inclusivity] insanity and rebuild forces!”
“Mass delegations of his/him email signatures are underway across the Pentagon.
“Whiteout panic in Raytheon, Boeing et al – and on CNN.”
He added: “#winning”.
Mr Cummings also highlighted a quote from the new defence chief, who said: “You’ve got to fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and obviously, to bring in a new Secretary of Defence, but any General that was involved in any of the [diversity, equality and inclusivity] woke sh*t has got to go.”
The defence appointment, even by Donald Trump’s standards, is a colourful pick.
He once hit a drummer with an axe on live television in 2015, resulting in a lawsuit.
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.”
