Former White House Official Questions Defense Secretary Choice
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Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as White House communications director during Trump’s first term, expressed concerns about Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Defense Secretary, suggesting the scrutiny previously directed at Matt Gaetz will now shift to him.
During her CNN appearance, Griffin predicted significant challenges ahead for Hegseth’s confirmation process.
According to Griffin, Hegseth faces dual obstacles: sexual misconduct allegations and a lack of necessary qualifications, despite Trump’s personal fondness for the former Fox News personality.
Alyssa Farah Griffin: After Gaetz, most scrutiny of Hegseth
Watch the full video here: https://t.co/sFUVrOWAlB pic.twitter.com/L46X0UfoSj— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) November 21, 2024
“This is [Trump’s] hand-picked choice, but the sexual allegations aside, he’s deeply unqualified for this role. And Republican senators, especially those on Senate Armed Services, in the intel committees, take the national security post extremely seriously,” Farah Griffin said.
“I think the questions around his qualifications to be Secretary of Defense are really going to be front and center with Gaetz kind of out of the limelight now and Hegseth’s got a real uphill battle to confirmation,” said Farah Griffin, also a former press secretary for the Department of Defense.
Nevertheless, several Republican senators remain optimistic. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, incoming chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, indicated positive prospects for the nomination, while Oklahoma’s Senator Markwayne Mullin expressed confidence in Hegseth’s ability to address concerns.
The nomination is complicated by a 2017 incident where a California woman reported Hegseth for sexual assault at a Republican event in Monterey. While Hegseth acknowledged a sexual encounter, he maintained it was consensual.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville just threw down the gauntlet, defending by name Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and RFK Jr. from the Senate floor — all while standing in front of a sign that reads:
"Number of Democrats who voted AGAINST Biden's 21 Cabinet Nominees: 0"
This is the way.🔥 pic.twitter.com/L7Cg7N7ZDt
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 20, 2024
Hegseth stated that the “matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I am going to leave it.”
Griffin suggested these allegations could provide the Trump transition team an opportunity to reconsider their choice. However, Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, soon to be the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, maintains his support for Hegseth as Pentagon chief.
