Marc Caputo: “There are few political acts that Trump values greater than defiance within the face of media scrutiny. And Hegseht’s cost on Thursday—clearly directed at an viewers in Mar-a-Lago—purchased him each time and goodwill. After rampant hypothesis that he may quickly drop his nomination, there’s little expectation of that now. Actually, Trump’s transition crew has settled on two theories for why Hegseth ought to keep in: time and magnetism.”
“Aides consider that the longer Hegseth stays in competition for the put up, the upper his possibilities of affirmation shall be, just because it topics GOP senators to a sustained strain marketing campaign from the MAGA base, and since many can have a tough time scuttling him in a public vote. These aides additionally consider that if Hegseth is drawing fireplace from critics, there shall be much less consideration and warmth on Trump’s different controversial nominees like Kash Patel (FBI), Tulsi Gabbard (director of nationwide intelligence), or Robert Kennedy Jr. (HHS).”
Stated a senior Trump adviser: “Hegseth is a heatshield. Pete can take the warmth, and that’s higher for everybody else.”
