President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Pete Hegseth as his pick for the next secretary of defense came together swiftly, according to sources familiar with the process. Hegseth, a veteran and television host, was contacted on Monday and summoned to Mar-a-Lago for an interview the following day. Subsequently, he was officially announced as the nominee shortly after the interview.
Some individuals involved in the transition were taken aback by the speed of the decision, especially considering that other individuals with more conventional qualifications for the role of Pentagon chief were not granted interview opportunities.