A Stunning Demonstration of Disregard’: NY Times Slams Trump’s Controversial Picks for Top Cabinet Roles

The New York Times editorial board has issued a blistering critique of President-elect Donald Trump, condemning his recent slate of appointees as clear evidence of his unfitness to lead. In an editorial published Thursday, the board questioned Trump’s judgment, warning that his nominations represent a disregard for competence and government integrity.

Trump’s picks—Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as attorney general and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of National Intelligence—were singled out as particularly troubling. “Trump has demonstrated his lack of fitness for the presidency in countless ways, but one of the clearest is in the company he keeps,” the editorial began.

“This week, a series of cabinet nominations by Mr. Trump showed the potential dangers posed by his reliance on his inner circle in the starkest way possible.” According to the Times, Trump’s approach to staffing America’s top agencies underscores his preference for loyalty over experience, surrounding himself with “fringe figures, conspiracy theorists, and sycophants.”

The board expressed grave concerns over the possibility of Gaetz, who recently resigned from Congress after Trump’s announcement, taking over the Justice Department. Among these concerns was Gaetz’s prior call to abolish the Department of Justice should it continue its investigations into Trump. The editorial noted Gaetz’s checkered history, including a federal sex trafficking probe that resulted in a prison sentence for an associate.

“The Justice Department closed that investigation, but the House Ethics Committee is still looking into allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, improper acceptance of gifts, and obstruction of government investigations of his conduct,” the editorial detailed. The board also referenced former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s recent claim that Gaetz pressured him to end an ethics complaint related to an alleged relationship with a minor.

McCarthy reportedly stated, “Mr. Gaetz wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old.” Though Gaetz denies these accusations, the Times questioned the suitability of placing a figure with such allegations at the helm of the nation’s top law enforcement agency, responsible for overseeing more than 115,000 employees and upholding the law impartially.

The Times editorial didn’t reserve its criticism for Gaetz alone. Gabbard’s nomination for director of National Intelligence and Fox News personality Pete Hegseth’s potential role as Secretary of Defense also drew ire. “Hegseth, a co-host of Fox & Friends, is perhaps even more unqualified, given the gravity—not to mention the budget—of the post he would assume,” the editorial stated, questioning Hegseth’s ability to lead the Pentagon.

The editorial also noted allegations that Hegseth, a National Guard member, was removed from duty at President Biden’s inauguration due to concerns over extremist views, possibly linked to a controversial tattoo associated with white supremacy. The board’s closing argument urged the Senate to oppose Trump’s nominees, warning of the consequences of allowing the president to “turn the leaders of major important agencies into his deputies.”

The editorial concluded, “In Mr. Trump’s second term, senators will immediately be confronted with an extreme set of appointments even worse than those of the first term. That makes it all the more important that they preserve the ability to say no.” In its sharp rebuke, the New York Times editorial board positioned itself as a voice of caution, urging lawmakers to consider the gravity of these appointments. With the confirmation process on the horizon, the board’s plea highlights what they see as a pivotal moment for America’s democratic institutions, underscoring the need for a vigilant Senate in the face of Trump’s divisive choices.