This is the horrifying moment Trump’s new defense secretary threw an axe and accidentally hit a West Point Hellcats marching band drummer.
Pete Hegseth was live on Fox & Friends when he threw an axe at a large red target for a competition segment in 2015.
The Fox host missed the target entirely, launching the large metal axe over the board towards drummer Jeff Prosperie, performing behind it.
Footage that went viral at the time showed Hegseth recoiling as Prosperie flinched before clipped on the arm. Hegseth then shrugged to the camera.
The video recirculated upon the announcement that Hegseth, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, would be appointed Trump’s new Defense Secretary next year.
Fox news host Pete Hegseth is seen throwing an axe as part of a segment on the show
The axe sails over the top of the board into the public area behind
On the other side of the board, a marching band are performing in the path of the flying axe
The axe appeared to clip drummer Jeff Prosperie, who later sued
Hegseth is a veteran who went on to work for Fox & Friends from 2014
Prosperie denied that he had been hit by the axe at the time, but said he did suffer some cuts on his wrist
He later wrote: ‘I was hit by an axe while performing a drum solo live on National TV…..words I never imagined saying! This happened…’
‘It could have been much worse or fatal,’ he insisted, blaming the incident on ‘obvious negligence’.
He later sued and argued that Hegseth had ‘negligently attempted to throw an axe at a “target”‘.
He argued the target was ‘negligently placed in an area’ that put people ‘in the path of peril’.
Fox News told The Hill at the time that Prosperie had declined an offer of medical help and compensation at the time.
The Hill reported he was choosing to sue three years later, in 2018.
‘The incident involving Jeff Prosperie from 2015 was unfortunate and completely unintentional,’ Fox said in a statement
‘FOX News immediately apologized to Prosperie and offered medical assistance, which he declined saying he was “okay”‘.
‘The network also offered compensation, which he declined as well. We have not heard from Prosperie since 2015, so the lawsuit is surprising and we are reviewing it.’
Prosperie said in the complaint he suffered ‘severe and serious personal injuries’ to both ‘mind and body’ from the incident, including some he said were ‘permanent with permanent effects of pain, disability, disfigurement and loss of body function’.
It was unclear whether the case was resolved.
Hegseth joined Fox in 2014 to host Fox & Friends Weekend. In 2019 he sparked controversy when he admitted he doesn’t ‘wash my hands really ever’ on the show.
Talking about eating a day-old pizza that had not been refrigerated he said he did not see any issue.
‘I inoculate myself. Germs are not a real thing. I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real.’
He later said he had been joking but reportedly added he also supported drinking from hosepipes and riding bikes without a helmet – in posts since deleted.
Hegseth is understood to have made friends with Donald Trump, a regular guest on the show, while at Fox, despite having no political background.
Trump announced Hegseth would step up to the role of Defense Secretary on Tuesday, writing: ‘I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as the Secretary of Defense.
‘Pete has 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.’
Hegseth deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army National Guard and won two Bronze Stars before unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 and joining Fox News.
He is also the author of ‘The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.’
The book, according to its promo, combines ‘his own war experiences, tales of outrage, and an incisive look at how the chain of command got so kinked,’ and bills itself as ‘the key to saving our warriors – and winning future wars.’
Mr Hegseth is also a former executive director of Vets For Freedom, a political advocacy group, and Concerned Veterans for America.
The decision to appoint him as Defense Secretary came as a shock to defence industry insiders.
One defense industry lobbyist, speaking on condition of anonymity, told POLITCO upon news of the nomination: ‘Who the f**k is this guy?’
Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, wrote on Twitter/X: ‘Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political. Brace yourself, America.’
Drummer Jeff Prosperie sued over the 2015 incident
Hegseth deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army National Guard and won two Bronze Stars and unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News
He is also the author of ‘The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.’
His appointment came amid a number of nominations through Tuesday as Trump began to name his Cabinet.
Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel.
Huckabee, a Baptist minister and father of former Trump press secretary and current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is a staunch defender of Israel.
Though he has no official foreign affairs experience, he would be at the center of efforts to carry through on Trump’s promise to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups.
Trump also named real estate investor Steven Witkoff as his special envoy to the Middle East.
Witkoff, a friend and golfing partner of the president-elect, fills a new role having made a foray into politics this January as co-chair of Trump’s inauguration.
He went on to speak at the Republican National Convention in July, and was with Trump when a suspected assassin entered the Trump International Golf Club in September.
Witkoff owns a large property portfolio in New York and other US cities and was a donor for Trump’s campaign before his appointment.
He has no experience in diplomacy or the Middle East.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk