It appears that the nomination of another of the President-elect’s cabinet members is in jeopardy, as The Bulwark reports that Trump has spoken to Florida Governor “Meatball” Ron DeSantis about serving as his Secretary of Defense, replacing first choice Pete Hegseth. Hegseth’s confirmation process seems increasingly unlikely, even in a Republican-controlled Senate.
It takes a remarkable level of evil for figures like Susan Collins — who approved Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court — to signal opposition to Hegseth. While Trump could potentially push the nomination through, it would likely require a significant expenditure of political capital he’d prefer to reserve for priorities like mass deportations or slashing the bureaucracy.
Hegseth managed to weather the revelation that he settled with a woman who accused him of rape, as well as ongoing murmurs about his womanizing. Vanity Fair detailed the infidelity that ended his first marriage, along with subsequent affairs, scandals, and sexual abuse allegations. However, an email obtained by The New York Times from Hegseth’s mother accusing him of mistreating women for years has dealt a significant blow to his nomination.
“I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego,” his mother wrote. “You are that man (and have been for years), and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.”
Hegseth’s mother has since recanted the email and is scheduled for an interview on Fox News to defend her son’s candidacy. However, it may be Fox News itself that has fatally damaged Hegseth’s prospects. While the network — where Hegseth was employed for over a decade — has stayed largely silent publicly, ten current and former Fox employees told NBC News that he was frequently intoxicated, often smelled of alcohol before going on air, and regularly complained about being hungover. The New Yorker also detailed instances of problem drinking at two of his previous jobs.
In other words, while Trump may have overlooked Hegseth’s treatment of women, the teetotaler seems less inclined to forgive issues with alcohol.
With Hegseth’s nomination likely doomed and DeSantis — an repugnant individual but somehow a more palatable choice than Hegseth — emerging as a potential replacement, attention may soon shift to the most dangerous nominee in Trump’s cabinet: RFK Jr. If Trump has concerns about Hegseth’s drinking, he might want to know how Bobby Kennedy handled his own ADHD. Kennedy’s decades-long history with drugs and scandals is likely to dominate the news cycle for weeks. Given Trump’s impatience and lack of loyalty, this could spell trouble for RFK Jr., and possibly a saving grace for public health.