TV profile Pete Hegseth is unusually inexperienced and untested on the international arena for the important task.
Donald Trump praises 44-year-old Pete Hegseth as tough, smart, and a true adherent to his "America first" policy.
Others point to Hegseth's lack of experience, although his military background is highlighted as a plus.
Hopes
The hope was that Trump would appoint someone with extensive experience in defense, says a defense lobbyist who wishes to remain anonymous, writes Politico.
It would be a good start, he says.
The incoming president sets a high value on loyalty, says Eric Edelman, who previously served as deputy minister at the Pentagon.
It seems that one of the main criteria used is how well people defend Donald Trump on TV, he says about the appointment of Hegseth.
TV Profile
In conservative circles, Hegseth is known as one of the hosts of the program "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Fox News. From some quarters, there are hints that he will only be the Pentagon chief in name and that Trump and the White House will instead drive the operations.
In Hegseth's TV program, it has emerged that he, like Trump, opposes "woke" programs that promote justice and inclusion. He has also questioned the role of women in combat and believes that soldiers accused of war crimes should be pardoned.
This summer, Trump urged his supporters to buy Hegseth's book and promised that if he won the election, the "woke stuff" would be gone within 24 hours.
The appointment of Pete Hegseth and other top names will be confirmed in a Senate vote.
