Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could only have been confirmed in the glow of Trump’s Golden Age. His resume boasts commendable highlights, particularly his military service and Ivy League education, but there was nothing that qualified him to head a department with 3.4 million personnel and an $850 billion budget. An impressive man, sure — but not all impressive men should head the Defense Department.

Hegseth’s role as a Fox News host, not his service or education or work with veterans, is what really landed him the job. Trump has long valued media savvy and telegenic appeal over conventional qualifications. Trump loves Fox, and Hegseth, an anti-woke, America First warrior, looked and sounded the part. It’s silly to pretend it went deeper than that.