Pete Hegseth’s Bid for Defense Secretary Faces Unlikely Criticism from Newsmax Host
Pete Hegseth’s bid for defense secretary is gaining traction, but not everyone is pleased with the nomination. Even a former Fox News host turned Newsmax host, Greg Kelly, is speaking out against the pick. In a surprising turn, Kelly has labeled Hegseth as “blackmailable” and expressed disbelief over his decision to pay a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
“I was once accused of sexual assault, falsely,” Kelly said. “I would never in a billion years pay that person a dime. That doesn’t sound like a fighter. That sounds like somebody who’s blackmailable. And I’m not comfortable with that individual being the secretary of defense.”
Kelly’s criticism goes beyond just the sexual assault allegations, pointing out Hegseth’s baggage and questioning his dedication to the MAGA agenda. “Pete Hegseth is no Matt Gaetz,” Kelly said. “He hasn’t done nearly enough for MAGA to warrant the Department of Defense job. And he’s got serious baggage. Serious baggage. It happens sometimes. Not every pick is perfect.”
The disapproval doesn’t stop there. Kelly also expressed frustration over Hegseth’s journalistic background, citing his support for the Iraq War and his participation in a network that prematurely called Arizona for Joe Biden in 2020. “So if anybody gets a little bit fatigued about the truth that we utter here, I’ll remind you we’re special and we’re better than Fox,” Kelly said.
