One thing is for sure: no one saw this coming. However, the people of America do show favor to Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. He has tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, hostile environments for anyone stationed there. So he is a frontline soldier, and definitely knows his way when it comes to the military, inside and out. Trump picked Pete because he sees him as a great champion for Trump's "Peace through Strength" policy. No wars, but still the strongest military in the world.