Like his predecessors, President-elect Donald Trump is entitled to some deference from the Senate and the public at large in making nominations to top positions. In return for this, however, there is an implied requirement that he name plausibly qualified candidates. He has done that in some cases, such as his selection of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) as secretary of state. Yet, on Tuesday and Wednesday, he announced three nominees for major national security roles, each of whom is ideologically extreme and lacks necessary experience: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as attorney general; Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth as defense secretary; and former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Each pick presents the incoming Republican-majority Senate with a major test of its ability to put the public interest ahead of party loyalty.
