Donald Trump’s team is grappling with the first problems related to appointments. Many of the names chosen by the president-elect have created political tensions among the Republicans without however affecting the transition team, convinced and sure of its work. Then, however, sexual assault accusations against Pete Hegseth, nominated to head the Pentagon, came as a surprise, and the president-elect’s staff was plunged into chaos. Immediately criticized by military leaders and Democrats, the former Fox anchorman raised doubts even among conservatives with his nomination. And now the scandal of sexual assault accusations further complicates his confirmation process in the Senate, which appeared to be uphill from the start.
The accusation dates back to 2017 during a conservative women’s conference. The police in Monterey, California, confirmed the complaint against Hegseth, who also caused a bruise to the victim. He has flatly denied the accusations in the past and did so in the last few hours even in front of Susie Wiles, the future head of the White House staff. Denials which, however, have not alleviated the fears of many within the transition team, worried by the possibility of new revelations emerging. Yesterday Trump, through his spokesperson, defended Hegseth: «He is qualified. He has denied all the allegations. We look forward to his confirmation,” Steven Cheung, the president-elect’s communications director, dismissed the matter. But it seems that before indicating it, the tycoon had been informed about the accusations against the former anchor. No word also on Hegseth’s tattoo, which has written ‘Deus Vult’ on his bicep, the cry ‘God wanted it used by Christians during the Crusades. The expression was used by some of the January 6 attackers and is also embraced by the far right.
“It’s a Christian motto,” Vice President-elect JD Vance cut short, trying to tone down the controversy. But Hegseth isn’t the only one in the storm. The appointment of Matt Gaetz as Minister of Justice continues to be discussed. Sexual accusations, including relationships with a minor, are also weighing on him. The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating the case for some time, did not release its expected report on the former Florida congressman under pressure from House Speaker Mike Johnson. According to rumors, the report includes the testimony of a woman who witnessed sexual intercourse between Gaetz and a seventeen-year-old. Still deeply burned by the defeat, the Democrats are on a war footing and are preparing to fight against the president’s appointments in the knowledge that the Republican majority in the Senate is not all that solid. In addition to Gaetz and Hegseth, liberals point the finger at the choice of Tulsi Gabbard to lead the intelligence and continue to repeat, without offering evidence, that she is a Russian asset. While looking to the battle that awaits them in Congress, Democrats are working on a resistance plan to contain Trump. Abandoning the pink hats and mass protests of 2017, liberals are aiming for a more assertive opposition by leveraging liberal governors. From California to Illinois, major maneuvers are underway to create an anti-Trump coalition. Not an easy task: deeply divided internally and frustrated with former speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats find themselves dealing with a party in pieces in search of a leader and grappling with the different interests of those aspiring to the House White in 2028. The list already includes Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and Michigan number one Gretchen Whitmer, whose ambitions have been profoundly scaled back after the second defeat of a female presidential candidate.