At a rally in Las Vegas this past weekend, President Donald Trump argued that the end of DEI means a return to hiring and promotion based solely on merit. I wrote about the perils of a meritocracy, but it is also important to understand that Trump is disingenuous about his belief in a meritocracy. To understand that disconnect, one need look no further than Trump’s own cabinet choices.

By way of example, let’s look at just-confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth who, before his nomination, was a weekend morning FOX News co-host.

I asked ChatGPT the following: “If cabinet positions in the U.S. federal government are filled based entirely on merit, what would the qualifications be for Secretary of Defense?”

Here is ChatGPT’s response:

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If the U.S. Secretary of Defense position were filled entirely based on merit, the qualifications would likely include a combination of professional experience, educational background, leadership skills, and a demonstrated ability to manage complex organizations. Here’s what such qualifications might look like:

1. Professional Experience

• Military Experience: High-ranking military service (e.g., a former general or admiral) with a deep understanding of defense strategy, military operations, and the structure of the armed forces. Defense Policy Expertise: Experience in formulating, analyzing, or implementing defense and national security policies, such as a senior role in the Department of Defense (DoD), think tanks, or intelligence agencies.
• Crisis Management: Proven ability to lead during national or global crises, such as overseeing military campaigns or responding to security threats.
• Budget Oversight: Experience managing large-scale budgets, particularly in a government or defense context, as the DoD has one of the largest budgets in the U.S. government.

2. Educational Background

• Relevant Degrees: Advanced degrees in fields like military strategy, international relations, public policy, political science, or defense studies. Engineering or cybersecurity expertise could also be valuable.
• War Colleges: Graduate or executive education at institutions like the National War College, U.S. Army War College, or similar institutions known for producing strategic thinkers.

3. Leadership and Organizational Skills

• Sam 0 Large-Scale Leadership: Proven leadership of a large organization, preferably with thousands of personnel, demonstrating the ability to navigate bureaucracy and inspire teams.
• Interagency Collaboration: Ability to work across government agencies, including intelligence, homeland security, and foreign affairs, to ensure cohesive strategies.
• Decision-Making Under Pressure: Demonstrated ability to make sound, strategic decisions in high-pressure environments with incomplete information.

4. Global and Geopolitical Understanding

• Strategic Perspective: Deep understanding of international relations, alliances (e.g., NATO), and global security challenges, including terrorism, cyber warfare, and emerging threats like artificial intelligence in warfare.
• Cultural Awareness: Familiarity with the cultural and political landscapes of key regions, such as the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe.

5. Technological Acumen

• Defense Technology: Knowledge of modern and emerging military technologies, including artificial intelligence, drones, space defense, and cybersecurity.
• Adaptability to Innovation: Proven ability to integrate new technologies and strategies into military operations or defense policies.

6. Ethical Integrity

• Commitment to Civilian Oversight: A strong belief in the principle of civilian control of the military, which is foundational to U.S. democracy.
• Transparency and Accountability: A track record of ethical decision-making and transparency, ensuring public trust.

7. Political and Diplomatic Skills

• Bipartisan Cooperation: Ability to navigate and build consensus across political divides to secure support for defense policies and budgets.
• Diplomatic Savvy: Experience engaging with foreign governments and leaders on defense and security matters.

Bonus Attributes

• Veteran Advocacy: Advocacy for veterans’ issues, including healthcare and transition support, demonstrating a commitment to the welfare of service members.
• Public Communication: Strong communication skills to effectively convey defense policies to the public, Congress, and international allies.

While no candidate would perfectly meet every qualification, someone with a combination of these attributes would be exceptionally well-suited to serve as Secretary of Defense based purely on merit.

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While Hegseth meets a couple of these requirements, he clearly does not rise to the level of meriting the job. In fact, he has demonstrated the opposite of some of these criteria. For example, Hegseth was forced to step down by the two nonprofit advocacy groups that he ran due to mismanagement of funds, sexual impropriety and reports of drunkenness. These clearly contradict some of the criteria for a meritocratic hire.

So, I asked ChatGPT to identify currently active Republicans who do, and it suggested the following:

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Mark Esper

• Military Experience: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; served as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division during the Gulf War.
• Professional Roles: Served as the 27th U.S. Secretary of Defense (2019–2020) and the 23rd Secretary of the Army (2017–2019).
• Educational Background: Holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Washington University.
• Leadership and Ethics: Managed large defense organizations and emphasized ethical leadership during his tenure.

Esper, of course, was Trump’s last Secretary of Defense and is a fierce Trump critic, so Trump would not have considered him. However, there is also…

Mac Thornberry

• Professional Experience: Served as the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 13th congressional district (1995–2021).
• Defense Policy Expertise: Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (2015–2019), overseeing defense budgets and policies.
• Educational Background: Earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.
• Leadership and Ethics: Known for bipartisan collaboration and efforts to reform defense acquisition processes.

Joni Ernst

• Military Experience: Retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Iowa Army National Guard; served as a company commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Political Roles: U.S. Senator from Iowa since 2015; member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University.
• Leadership and Ethics: Advocates for veterans’ issues and has a strong focus on military readiness and ethical governance.

Jerry Moran

• Political Roles: U.S. Senator from Kansas since 2011; member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. >Defense Policy Expertise: Involved in legislative oversight of defense spending and policy formulation.
• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Kansas and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law.
• Leadership and Ethics: Known for his work on veterans’ affairs and commitment to ethical leadership in defense matters.

Duncan L. Hunter

• Military Experience: Served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal.
• Political Roles: U.S. Representative for California’s 52nd congressional district (1981–2009); Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (2003–2007).
• Educational Background: Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law.
• Leadership and Ethics: Focused on military modernization and border security; recognized for his leadership in defense policy.

Hegseth is far from the only Trump cabinet nominee who fails the merit test. Neither Confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem nor National Security Adviser nominee Tulsi Gabbard “merit” their jobs.

When Donald Trump talks about merit, like most things, it does not apply to him. It is nothing more than a thinly veiled justification to elevate white men to top jobs, the primary goal of the MAGA movement.