loyalty

“It may be a direct loyalty test from the president.”

The announcement shocked even members of Congress whose lockstep loyalty to the president-elect is otherwise unquestioned.

Hegseth’s loyalty is significant, because Trump has previously demonstrated willingness to extend his decision-making reach into matters traditionally left to Pentagon leaders.

The former president’s longest-serving chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, made waves with a series of interviews in which he disclosed that Trump spoke wistfully of the loyalty of Hitler’s Nazi generals, and said he believed that Trump’s views aligned with “the general definition of fascist.”

He added that Trump probably appointed Gaetz to reward him for his loyalty.