Huckabee praises Hegseth, blames 'woke' mindset for low military recruitment

Mike Huckabee (R), Arkansas’s former governor and newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, commended President-elect Trump for selecting Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense.

“I think he's going to be just as disruptive, which needs to happen at the DOD. They've been so focused on being woke and being diverse that nobody wants to join them," Huckabee said Friday on NewsMax’s "Rob Schmitt Tonight."

He said the Fox News host and Army National Guard officer could boost recruitment levels which are at an all-time low, which Huckabee blamed on recent diversity and inclusion efforts.

Huckabee compared their attempts to increase enlistment to a “social experiment” that Hegseth could help end. 

“The military has always been a meritocracy. It's never been some social experiment,” the Republican said.

"So if Pete Hegseth goes in and gets rid of some of these folks who politically got their jobs rather than for military capacity, God bless him. Good for him.”

However, some lawmakers have questioned Hegseth’s selection after sexual assault allegations surfaced in addition to his lack of experience in military leadership.

Others have joined Huckabee in praising Trump’s choice in hopes that he would cure the armed forces of “woke” generals. 

“I'm thrilled with these appointments so far, because every one of them pretty much are disruptive. These are not people who go into just oil the machinery that's already running," Huckabee said, noting Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) selection for attorney general. 

"They want to come in and make some serious, positive changes so these agencies start working for the good and working for the American people rather than working for somebody's left-wing agenda."