Rachel Maddow looks at the impressive list of accomplishments and credentials of former Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin, who served under President Biden, and the relatively meager experience of cable news personality Pete Hegseth,

He made an unannounced stop to the Pentagon on Saturday after the swearing-in ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. There was no media coverage of his arrival. The Pentagon later released an official photo saying Hegseth was “ready to get to work on behalf of America’s warriors.”

The new defense secretary’s goals run counter to the military’s apolitical tradition and efforts to build a force that mirrors America.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's choice to be defense secretary, gives a thumbs-up at the completion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol on Jan.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled Trump would sign executive orders intended to roll back diversity initiatives and shake up the military.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bid farewell Friday to the forces and personnel he has led through a tumultuous term that had three major military crises, a global pandemic and a personal brush with cancer that became a flashpoint for the way it was mishandled.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday released his priorities for the Pentagon soon after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tiebreaking vote in the Senate and swore him into office.

Pete Hegseth takes over as secretary of defence as the Trump administration launches a crackdown on immigration - including mass deportations.

Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next U.S. defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee.

Vice President J.D. Vance cast his first tie-breaking vote on Friday night to help the Senate confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, as the nominee convinced just enough Republicans that attacks on his character and qualifications were unfounded.

Hegseth's confirmation is a narrow victory for Trump and supporters who want to see a warrior and change agent lead the Pentagon.

Columnist David Marcus writes that the three senators who voted against Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense seem to have missed the point while looking for a more traditional nominee.