Donald Trump nominated several unqualified and dangerous people to cabinet positions. Here are a few examples:
Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense – This is generally an easy bi-partisan position to confirm. In his case, the vote was tied, several Republicans voting against him due to his inexperience and character flaws. Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote. Hegseth is a Fox weekend talk show host with some military experience and a trump loyalist.
“President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, was reportedly forced out of two leadership roles at veteran-focused non-profits amid allegations of financial mismanagement, drunkenness and sexist behavior.”
He is on his third wife, having cheated on both of his previous wives. His own mother accused him of mistreating women. He has paid a woman $50,000 over sexual assault allegations. He has made negative comments about women serving in combat.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski’s tweet lists her concerns.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr – Secretary of Health and Human Services – He is a vaccine denier who has said there are no safe and effective vaccines. His health views are a cornucopia of conspiracy theories.
He encourages young parents not to vaccinate their kids, although he vaccinated all of his own children. He has no medical or scientific training. He says that many more people died from the polio vaccine than died from polio. He said it’s harder to wean off SSRIs than to wean off heroine.
Here is a list of what to expect with him as HHS Secretary.
His cousin Caroline Kennedy called him a predator and released a letter and video denouncing him.
Kash Patel – FBI Director – He is an election denier and Trump loyalist with a published list of enemies he says are part of the deep state.
He published a children’s book called “The Plot Against the King” with Donald Trump as the King, which tells the story of a stolen election.
A few quotes by Republicans who worked with Patel:
- Attorney General Barr: “I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director. I [said] it would happen ‘over my dead body.’ … Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world’s preeminent law enforcement agency.”
- National Security Advisor John Bolton: “I didn’t think he was qualified. He demonstrated no policy aptitude at all. I was forced to hire him.”
- Deputy National Security Advisor Charles Kupperman: “The idea that he is going to become the FBI director is appalling. His legal career is modest at best. His ideas are ludicrous.”
- CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign after President Trump proposed making Patel CIA Deputy Director.
- Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Patel lied about whether Nigeria had approved a hostage rescue operation, putting American lives at risk.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/kash-patel-vs-j-edgar-hoover
Tulsi Gabbard – Director of National Intelligence – She has no experience in intelligence but Trump wants her to run all national intelligence.
Russian state TV reporters referred to her as “our girlfriend”. She repeats Russian talking points and claims that is the fault of the US that Russia invaded Ukraine.
She has unauthorized meetings with dictators and defends them.
Many are concerned that she can’t be trusted with national secrets as she is a defender of Edward Snowden.