Career
He served as Chairman of Venstres Ungdom 1999–2001. He replaced Troels Lund Poulsen as Minister for Taxation of Denmark from March 8, 2011 to October 3, 2011. Thor Möger Pedersen followed him as Minister for Taxation of Denmark.
On 30 September 2015 he replaced Carl Holst as Minister of Defence, who stepped down, following a list of personal scandals.