Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s decision to withdraw from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee has thrown the media into a feeding frenzy, with the left gleefully speculating about potential fallout for Trump’s other top picks. The latest drama surrounds Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, who is now facing renewed scrutiny over a years-old sexual misconduct allegation.
Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran and former Fox News host, addressed the allegations head-on. “The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters on Capitol Hill, noting that the encounter was consensual. But, of course, facts don’t stop the left or their media allies from turning every molehill into a mountain when it comes to Trump’s cabinet picks.
While the left hyperventilates, Trump’s transition team remains firm in its support. “Pete Hegseth is a highly respected combat veteran who will honorably serve our country when he is confirmed as the next secretary of defense,” said spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
Hegseth isn’t the only nominee drawing leftist ire. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Tulsi Gabbard, tapped for Director of National Intelligence, are also targets for media attacks. Kennedy’s controversial comments on vaccines and Gabbard’s unconventional takes on foreign policy have made them easy fodder for critics. But let’s be honest—the left would be just as outraged if Trump nominated Mother Teresa.
Republican senators, for the most part, appear to be rallying behind the nominees, with many voicing support for Hegseth. Even Sen. Kevin Cramer, who acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, refrained from rushing to judgment. Still, some strategists are framing Gaetz’s withdrawal as a “sacrificial lamb” scenario—clearing the path for the rest of Trump’s team.
This is classic Trump-era politics: Democrats and the media grasping at straws, while the GOP focuses on putting America back on track. Gaetz may have stepped aside, but the strength of Trump’s picks lies in their independence, credentials, and commitment to conservative principles. The left can keep crying wolf, but voters sent a clear message in 2024: they’re tired of the chaos and ready for leadership that puts America first.
