In the weeks following the 2024 presidential election, President-Elect Donald Trump has hit the ground running — announcing numerous cabinet nominees fraught with controversy. With the Republicans gaining firm control of Congress, it is likely that these nominations will be forced through their confirmations, acting as a loyalty test for Trump’s new Republican government. Before the existential dread sets in, here is a ranking of the top five worst nominations Trump has announced thus far.
- Kristi Noem — Secretary of Homeland Security
While technically the most inoffensive pick on this list, make no mistake, Kristi Noem will be a disastrous pick to lead this essential government agency. As the Governor of South Dakota — the 46th smallest U.S. State by population — Noem has been a fierce advocate for mass deportation efforts, playing into the racist, anti-immigration rhetoric that has become the tagline of Trump’s Republican Party. As the Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem will have wide-reaching authority to enact Trump’s promises of mass deportations, the likes of which the nation has never seen.
- Pete Hegseth — Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth — known for his position as the Co-Host of Fox & Friends — is a decorated Army Veteran, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. However, this is the entirety of Hegesth’s political experience. Hegseth has never held a position in public office, making him extremely unqualified to lead the Department of Defense — charged with protecting 334 million Americans. In addition to his complete incompetence, much to the surprise of Trump’s transition team, information has been uncovered that Hegseth paid a settlement to an individual who accused him of sexual assault. Unfortunately, Hegseth is not the only cabinet pick who has been accused of sexual misconduct.
- Elon Musk — DOGE
In an effort to curb wasteful government spending, Trump has nominated billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While his counterpart is an unfortunate pick, Musk takes the cake as the most concerning of the two. Musk — who is estimated to be the richest man in the world — is the CEO of multiple companies that receive millions of dollars in government contracts. In a clear and alarming conflict of interest, Musk is being put in command of a task force whose primary goal is to defund regulatory bodies, the same bodies that regulate Musk’s businesses. After donating an unprecedented $130 million to Trump’s campaign — and receiving a huge windfall as a result of Trump’s victory — Musk’s transition from tech billionaire to supervillain may be complete as he looks to gut essential regulatory bodies that protect American consumers.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — Secretary of Health and Human Services
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a fierce anti-vaxxer. Yes, the person being put in charge of the government agency responsible for upholding the public’s health, has spread debunked conspiracies that common childhood measles, mumps and rubella vaccines lead to the development of autism. Kennedy’s agenda for HHS includes removing fluoride from the water supply and addressing chronic illnesses. However, one cannot help but wonder what his appointment will mean for the future of vaccinations in our nation. Unfortunately, Kennedy’s nomination is not an episode of the “Twilight Zone,” and is instead a grave warning as to the nature of Trump’s second term.
- Matt Gaetz — Attorney General
Matt Gaetz, a U.S. Representative from Florida, was recently investigated by the FBI concerning allegations that he aided in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. While Gaetz was not charged by the Department of Justice, he has also been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee — an investigation that is soon to be disclosed to the public. According to ABC, this report included testimony from a 17-year-old girl claiming she witnessed the Florida congressman having sex with a minor. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has taken a firm stance against releasing the report, so these allegations may never be confirmed. However, the mere fact that an individual accused — and potentially guilty — of sexual misconduct with minors may be the head of the Department of Justice is sickening. Gaetz deserves to rot behind bars, not put other people behind them.
