Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) weighed in on President-elect Trump’s decision to pick Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his chief of defensesuggesting it would be “easily confirmed”.

“I dare any Republican senator to vote against him,” Chaffetz told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “It’s not in their best interest.”

“And we need to put it back together as soon as possible. Relief is on the way,” he emphasized in an interview on “The Ingraham Angle.” by Mediaites. “That’s exactly what I think America was trying to do. And I can’t believe how excited I am.”

Ingraham also praised Hegseth — a “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host and an Army National Guard officer — as a savior for the recruiting and shortage problems facing the U.S. military.

However, some Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Adam Smith (Wash.) and Dan Goldman (N.Y.), questioned Trump’s decision.

“There is concern that this is not a serious enough policymaker, serious enough policy implementer to do a successful job,” said Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, according to reports by TO The Associated Press.

Goldman said the Trump pick made him “very disturbed”.

“I’m shocked, really, and that’s exactly what we were worried about when we warned about Donald Trump, that he would appoint unqualified loyalists to shape this government into a personal fiefdom,” he said Tuesday.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also said she was surprised by the move because his name was not considered.

“Wow. … I’m just surprised, because the names I’ve heard for Secretary of Defense didn’t include him,” Murkowski. said after announcement of the president-elect.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) simply asked, “Who?”

But the former president did not back down from his decision, offering his reasoning for selecting Hegseth to lead the defense effort in a public announcement.

“Pete spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said in a statement.

“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our Military will be great again, and America will not back down,” he added.

Since being declared winner of the 2024 race, Trump wasted no time launching himself a list of people will make Cabinet appointments and key administration positions when he returns to the White House in January.

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