Democratic Rep. Says What We're All Thinking About Trump's 'Beyond Insane' Cabinet Picks

Democratic Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern gave his blunt assessment of President-elect Donald Trump's bizarre Cabinet picks thus far, calling them "beyond insane."

With Trump recently having picked Matt Gaetz (who faces sex trafficking accusations) for attorney general, Tulsi Gabbard (who has ignited concerns due to her ties to Russia) for director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth (a Fox News host accused of sexual assault) for secretary of defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (an antivaxxer and conspiracy theorist) for secretary of health and human services, Senate Republicans are very much divided on confirming them.

And McGovern, in a speech on the House floor, made clear that concerns about these nominees exist on both sides of the aisle in large part because they lack the expertise, character, morals, and ethics required to lead the country's most vital federal agencies.

He said:

"What the hell is going on here? And their cabinet picks so far? These are like beyond insane."

"Someone who is credibly accused of having sex with an underage girl. Someone who sucks up to foreign dictators and has attracted major concern that they can’t be trusted to protect America’s secrets from our adversaries.”

"Someone who paid hush money to cover up a sexual assault accusation, you know, to lead our military. He’s picked because Donald Trump likes him on Fox News? Someone who says that tap water turns kids gay?"

"I mean, this is the dream team? This is the dream team? Really? I mean, seriously, it would be funny if it weren't so sad."

You can hear what he said in the video below.

People were very much on board with his assessment.

In the months ahead, confirmation battles in the Republican-controlled Senate will test whether Gaetz, Gabbard, Hegseth, and Kennedy Jr. can hold onto their controversial assignments.

Hegseth faces scrutiny after CNN reported that he paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a settlement agreement that included a confidentiality clause.

Hegseth’s attorney has denied the allegations, stating the former Army National Guard officer was never charged criminally or named in any civil lawsuit stemming from the 2017 claim. The revelation blindsided Trump’s team, as Hegseth’s nomination had already been announced.

Meanwhile, questions loom over Gaetz following new developments in a House Ethics Committee investigation. A lawyer representing two witnesses in the probe revealed Friday that one of his clients claimed to have seen Gaetz engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

Gaetz, who stepped down from Congress last week, has repeatedly denied all allegations, including accusations of sex with a minor or paying for sex. The Justice Department previously declined to press charges after a federal investigation.

Gabbard is facing bipartisan skepticism over her past rhetoric, which critics say echoed Russian propaganda. While Gabbard has defended her positions as efforts to promote dialogue and avoid war, concerns persist about her ability to lead the intelligence community in countering adversaries like Russia.

Lastly, Kennedy’s stances have alarmed public health officials worried about his potential to undermine decades of progress in immunization campaigns.