Pompeo is out! The Trump team is considering this hawkish congressman to be secretary of defense | Pompeo | Trump | Team | Hawks congressman | Secretary of Defense
According to a report by the US media POLITICO on November 8, Rogers is a dark horse in Trump’s potential choice for Secretary of Defense. Sources familiar with the matter told Fox Digital News that the Trump administration transition team has contacted Rogers; another three people familiar with the matter told POLITICO that Rogers is being considered to take over the Pentagon.
Rogers is a conservative who was first elected in 2002 and has been re-elected ever since. The Republican Party took over as chairman of the Armed Services Committee in 2023 after gaining a majority in the House of Representatives. On the 5th, he was automatically re-elected because he had no opponent in the election.
Although Rogers is senior, he is relatively low-key, and his personal relationship with Trump is not as close as that of the Department of Defense or other top national security contenders. However, he is one of the toughest defense hawks in the House of Representatives and a strong political ally with Trump. Defender.
POLITICO pointed out that Trump opposed new funds for Ukraine and instead promised to negotiate with Russia to end the war. Although Rogers advocated aid to Ukraine, he also stated shortly after taking over as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee that Ukraine and Russia needed to be persuaded to come to the negotiating table to end the war.
According to previous news, other popular candidates for defense secretary include former Secretary of State Pompeo and Florida Republican Congressman Mike Waltz. Another rumored favorite, Arkansas U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, has reportedly withdrawn voluntarily.
President-elect Trump announced on the Truth social platform on November 9 that he would not invite former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to join his second cabinet. He added: “I absolutely love and appreciate working with them before and appreciate their service to our country. Make America Great Again.”
Two other people familiar with the matter told Fox Digital News that Elise Stefanik, the current No. 4 figure in the House Republican caucus, caucus chair and New York State Rep. Elise Stefanik, is being discussed as a potential candidate for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. .
So far, the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Rogers declined to comment.