Some Dems support Trump nominees
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Former Obama administration official Jeh Johnson offered a surprising defense of two key national security picks in President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration: former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Army veteran Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. During a Thursday appearance on CNN, Johnson praised their qualifications, despite criticism from the left and media narratives attempting to discredit them.
While Johnson expressed reservations about Trump’s Attorney General nominee, he made a point to support Gabbard and Hegseth, explaining why they bring valuable perspectives to their respective roles in Trump’s administration.
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“Well, I’m going to surprise you a little bit,” Johnson replied.
“I don’t think that it is an absolute prerequisite that the director of national intelligence be someone of the intelligence community. I also believe that on occasion, it’s a good thing to be skeptical of the intelligence that we’re provided. Those of us who are in a position of making serious decisions, policymakers.”
He went on to point out, “Being skeptical of what the intelligence community produces can be a good thing. And I’m thinking of the intelligence leading up to the Iraq war, for example.”
Sidner then shifted to Hegseth, a decorated 20-year veteran and National Guard officer with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay.
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“Let me ask you about another controversial pick, a Fox anchor, Pete Hegseth. He did serve in the Army National Guard, but now he is up for secretary of defense. And, you know, he said a few things. He has lobbied for people who are accused of war crimes in Afghanistan. He recently said that women do not belong in combat roles. But you have said that you’d give him the benefit of the doubt. Why?”
“I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt,” Johnson responded.
“Because here’s somebody who was well-educated, obviously intelligent, was in financial services, was in the Wall Street community for a while, could have made a lot of money and chose to leave that, put on the uniform of our country, and see combat. So I give him the benefit of the doubt for that reason.”
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I like both Gabbard and Hegseth. They should be given the opportunity to demonstrate they are up to the jobs they have been given.
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