The announcement that Trump had tapped Hegseth, a decorated Army National Guard veteran who served multiple times in the Middle East, was met with shock and skepticism, even by some of Trump’s supporters. The idea that the morning talk show host could run the federal government’s most important agency and its $800 billion budget seemed absurd at first glance, despite his prior military service.

But Trump was elected to disrupt the status quo. His election victory last week was a sweeping mandate to change the way the federal government, including the Pentagon, operates. And, in Hegseth, Trump has found someone who shares his vision of disrupting Washington’s daily operations.

Hegseth may have made his name on television as an energetic morning news show host, but he cut his teeth in the National Guard after attending Princeton University. He also later earned a master’s degree from Harvard.

More importantly, Hegseth has already developed a healthy skepticism toward the Pentagon’s modus operandi in recent years, criticizing it for prioritizing a progressive policy agenda over military preparedness and lethality. Last summer he published his latest book, “The war against warriors: behind the betrayal of the men who keep us free», condemning the politicization of the American army and advocating for its reform.

Fixing the problem Hegseth diagnosed is an important part of Trump’s agenda. In a campaign policy video, the president-elect blamed the military’s adoption of progressive policies under the Biden administration for the recruiting gap currently plaguing several branches of the military.

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“Joe Biden’s woke politics and political purges have deterred many great patriots from serving,” Trump said. “They don’t want to serve in our army. Frankly, they disrespect our president. This is an important factor. I will restore the proud culture and honor the traditions of America’s armed forces. And there will be no Marxism or Communism allowed, and we will get rid of the fascists.”

In choosing a secretary of defense, Trump was looking for someone who would help him implement his agenda. In Hegseth, he found someone who not only understands the problem of politicization in the military, but is dedicated to ending it and making the U.S. military the most formidable fighting force in the world.