Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Elon Musk are all in line to serve as top government leaders.
All have faced various accusations of sexual misconduct.
The president’s choice to carry out his agenda reflects an incoming administration that disagrees with the norms of the “Me Too” movement. Behavior that could have gotten people fired or disqualified (or not nominated for cabinet positions) over the past few years seems to be less of a problem in the age of Trump 2.0.
Gaetz (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images); Hegseth (John Lamparski/Getty Images); Kennedy (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images); Musk (ALLISON ROBBERT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
To be clear: three people – Gaetz, Hegseth and Musk – have consistently denied the allegations.
Gaetz, Trump the attorney general’s choicesaid he did not have sexual relations with a minor, a 17-year-old, while he was a member of Congress, even under oath. witness witness on the contrary. Gaetz’s allies also pointed to a Justice Department investigation that did not cost him anything.
A 2017 investigated sexual assault to the person Trump plans to nominate for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, at no cost, according to Hegseth’s attorney. Hegseth reached a secret settlement with the woman involved.
Eight SpaceX employees filed a lawsuit earlier this year accusing CEO Elon Musk of fostering an abusive work environment that plaintiffs say is rife with sexual harassment. The eight plaintiffs say that while working at SpaceX, they were subjected to “unwanted sexual conduct and comments by Elon Musk that created an abusive and abusive work environment,” the lawsuit said. Musk denied the allegations, according to the Associated Press. Musk has been tapped to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, the agency Trump wants to establish.
KennedyTrump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the only one of four that shows he can act recklessly, apologized to a former nanny for allegations of unwanted sexual advances in the 1990s.
He told CBS News that he doesn’t remember the act, but doesn’t want to “leave anyone in the world feeling like I did something insensitive or inappropriate.”
Asked if he would have to make similar apologies to others in the future, Kennedy replied, “Maybe, I’m 70 years old.
Trump himself has been accused of sexually assaulting at least 15 women. In 2023, a jury found him civilly liable for sexually abusing author E. Jean Carroll.
Trump’s transition team has not responded to a request for comment.
Machismo has often been at the center of Trump’s appeal to voters during the 2024 campaign. He regularly talks about toughness – whether that trait applies to immigration policy, fighting drug trafficking or surviving two assassination attempts.
Wrestler Hulk Hogan delivered a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt while praising the candidate.
And Trump also spent time on a far-right podcast with a mostly male audience.
His request for male culture was paid in November. He has a bigger one advantage among male voters against Kamala Harris, winning this group by 13 percentage points, compared to the 8-point advantage he had against President Biden in 2020, and the 11-point margin of Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The Senate will say if Gaetz, Hegseth and Kennedy are confirmed cabinet secretaries. Before the confirmation hearing, Republican senators, who are expected to provide almost all the votes for the four nominees, did not say much about the prospects.
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy wasn’t sure what Tuesday Gaetz could get the 51 votes needed for confirmation. “I will not bet my house in one way or another. And if I bet your house, which will be easier, I will say ‘I do not know,’ “He said.
Several Republicans interviewed by CBS News had a similar message: let the vetting and confirmation process continue, and don’t jump to conclusions, no matter how troubling the allegations are.
“We’re going to talk,” said Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa.
“There should be legitimate vetting,” Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said. “That’s what the committee does. That’s our job.”
