The Left is jumping ship in a massive way. And now there’s no going back.
Because an Obama official betrayed Democrats in a surprising team-up with Donald Trump.
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.
Host Sara Sidner, parroting the Democrat-media line on Gabbard, claimed she had “spread Russian propaganda” and questioned her skepticism about intelligence regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons.
Sidner then asked what Gabbard’s potential appointment as Director of National Intelligence might mean.
“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.
Rather than emphasizing his military achievements, Sidner dismissed him as a “Fox anchor” while briefly mentioning his service.
She pressed Johnson on Hegseth’s past statements and advocacy, asking:
“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.”
Johnson emphasized that both Gabbard and Hegseth would undergo Senate confirmation hearings, where lawmakers could thoroughly vet their qualifications.
His measured defense of Trump’s nominees stood in contrast to the media’s relentless focus on attacking their character and fitness.
Trump’s picks, like Gabbard and Hegseth, bring an outsider perspective and a deep respect for America’s national security interests, which aligns with his America First agenda.
Despite the predictable outrage from the Left, even a former Obama official recognized the potential strength these individuals could bring to their roles.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
