President-elect Donald Trump has made two high-profile nominations for his upcoming administration, appointing broadcaster and former military officer Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk as the head of a newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency.
The announcement, delivered via a statement from Trump, emphasized Hegseth’s qualifications and alignment with the “America First” philosophy.
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First,” Trump stated. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”
He praised Hegseth as a staunch advocate for the military, saying, “Nobody fights harder for the troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”
Trump also nominated Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and the wealthiest individual globally, to lead the soon-to-be-formed Department of Government Efficiency. The department, colloquially referred to as “DOGE,” will serve as a vehicle for dismantling bureaucratic obstacles, slashing unnecessary regulations, and promoting a more entrepreneurial approach within federal operations. Trump revealed the appointment on Tuesday evening, noting that Musk would collaborate with entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy on this ambitious mission.
“Together, these two remarkable Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the Save America Movement,” Trump stated,