James Carville may have a point.
Just two weeks after the Democratic strategist indicated that Tucker Carlson was influencing President-elect Donald Trump’s unconventional Cabinet choices, the Wall Street Journal has indicated that Carlson indeed undermined Mike Pompeo’s prospects within the new administration.
Initially, Trump’s inner circle believed that Pompeo, who was the secretary of state throughout Trump’s first term, was a front-runner to take charge of the Department of Defense.
However, Carlson contended that Pompeo was a warmonger and suggested—without any substantiating evidence—that he had conspired to kill Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Pompeo refuted these claims back in October.
More significantly for Trump, Carlson and Donald Trump Jr., who has been active in guiding his father’s transition team, also asserted that Pompeo had failed to demonstrate his loyalty to Trump by labeling the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol as “unacceptable” and declined to state that Joe Biden had stolen the 2020 election, as reported by the Journal.
Shortly following the election, Trump shared on his social media platform Truth Social in November that neither Mike Pompeo nor his previous ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley—who competed against him in the Republican primary—would be featuring in his administration.
Trump’s spokesperson Karoline Leavitt informed the Journal that the President’s Cabinet selections “demonstrate his commitment to prioritizing America,” noting that he “will persist in appointing exceptionally qualified individuals who possess the necessary experience, skills, and talents” to advance his agenda.
Trump has subsequently nominated Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and combat veteran, to head the Department of Defense. Hegseth’s nomination has been accompanied by allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol issues, and financial mismanagement—all of which he denies.
However, in contrast to Pompeo, Hegseth has criticized the U.S. for providing military assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Interestingly, Carlson has gained popularity in Russian media, conducting interviews that give high-ranking officials the opportunity to bolster President Vladimir Putin’s campaign to intimidate the U.S. into withdrawing from Ukraine by threatening to escalate the conflict to a nuclear level.
For Trump, though, it appears that loyalty supersedes ideology. His Cabinet nominations encompass a surprising array of occasionally contradictory policy perspectives, though all candidates scrutinized for top administration roles share one commonality—they have been interrogated regarding their loyalty to Trump.
If potential nominees acknowledge Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, they are dismissed, the New York Times reported earlier this month. The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Carlson and Trump Jr. are dedicated to preventing anyone who might attempt to “control” Trump instead of serving him.
With Pompeo out and Hegseth appointed, Trump secures his MAGA supporter while Carlson gains a defense secretary who is against aid to Ukraine.
And Carville’s earlier observations appear remarkably insightful: “Tucker is 40 times smarter than [former Trump adviser] Steve Bannon, he’s 40 times more connected… He’s a highly intelligent individual who should not be underestimated.”
