Conservative Think Tank Backs Trump’s Defense Secretary Nominee
Palm Beach, Fla. — The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative think tank, has announced a $1 million campaign to support President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth. This move aims to persuade senators hesitant to endorse Hegseth due to concerns about his views on women in combat roles and allegations regarding his personal conduct.
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, stated that the initiative would focus on rallying constituents to align with the Trump administration’s agenda. Roberts attributed criticisms of Hegseth to “the establishment” and emphasized the nominee’s alignment with Trump’s policies.
The Heritage Foundation’s backing of Hegseth underscores the growing influence of Project 2025 within the incoming administration. Although Trump distanced himself from the project during his campaign, several of its contributors have been appointed to key government positions.
Speaking at a Mar-a-Lago event, Roberts mentioned his meeting with Trump and other soon-to-be members of the Cabinet, although he did not confirm any private discussions with the president-elect. Project 2025 proposes significant changes, including reclassifying federal employees to facilitate dismissals and reducing the scope of various government agencies.
The Mar-a-Lago event also marked the launch of a new exchange-traded fund, Azoria U.S. Meritocracy, which plans to exclude companies engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. The fund’s CEO, James Fishback, maintains close ties with Vivek Ramaswamy, who has taken charge of the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk.
Roberts, who introduced himself humorously as a member of Project 2025, highlighted his collaboration with Brooke Rollins, head of the America First Policy Institute. Rollins has been nominated to serve as Trump’s agriculture secretary, reflecting the alignment between the two organizations on the Trump agenda.
Describing the upcoming term as the “beginning of the golden era of America’s next chapter,” Roberts expressed optimism about the country’s future direction under Trump’s leadership. “I think we’re in the middle of a re-founding of this country,” he said.
“Pete Hegseth is a decorated veteran and a patriot who will always put America first. Pete is focused on what I’m focused on which is getting wokeness out of the military and making our Department of Defense lethal again. And Pete Hegseth won’t back down. He won’t back down from the media, or from the bureaucracy and he won’t back down from China, Iran or Russia. He’s going to make America strong again and our enemies fear us again.”
U.S. Sen.-elect Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, on Dec. 5, 2024
