I agree with columnist Renée Graham that Donald Trump doesn’t want to validate critics by firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (“Why Trump hasn’t fired Hegseth,” Opinion, April 23). But I am wondering whether Republicans in Congress can learn something from this. Clearly Hegseth was unqualified in many ways, including lack of experience, a history of financial mismanagement, and questionable character. If Republicans want to be successful in the future, perhaps they should use their best judgment rather than acquiesce to Trump’s demands.
Rubber-stamping a Cabinet nominee who everyone could see was a poor candidate risks exactly what we are seeing now: a defense secretary who is in way over his head, causing embarrassment to the administration and putting our nation in jeopardy. The personal risk of being primaried may have been too great for many Republicans in Congress, but the risk to the administration, the Republican Party, and the country may be even greater.