Scott Brown doubles down on Trump’s unqualified nominees as he eyes Senate run

Massachusetts politician Scott Brown has been among the most vocal supporters of President Donald Trump’s controversial and least qualified cabinet picks, a sharp reversal from how the 2026 New Hampshire senate hopeful has considered nominees under Democratic administrations, calling into question his willingness to put politics before country.

Across several recent interviews and social media posts, Brown has sharply criticized Democrats for delaying President Trump’s cabinet picks in 2025, with many nominees he has vocally supported being among the least qualified in modern history.

In the toughest nominee fight in Trump’s second administration, Brown was seen as a top backer of Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth,

In a January interview, Brown slammed Democrats’ opposition to Hegseth as a “slap in the face,” calling them “obstructionists.” He insisted that Trump “deserves all of his nominees,” including Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host whose record of alleged alcohol and domestic abuse forced a tie breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance to move the nomination forward.

“He should absolutely get every person he wants around him,” Brown said in the interview, emphasizing that voters “sent a very strong message and a mandate that President Trump’s in charge.”

Hegseth, a former Fox News host,  has no pervious experience at the Pentagon, no experience running a large organization, and has no experience managing a large budget within an organization, having only run two small non-profit groups with staff numbering under 100 each.

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The Department of Defense employs over 2.4 million individuals and has a budget of over $840 billion.

Hegseth’s nomination was marked by numerous abuse and misconduct allegations made against Hegseth since his nomination began, which included an affidavit from his former sister-in-law that Hegseth’s violent behavior caused his second wife to fear for her safety, requiring her to use a code word to communicate she needed assistance getting away from Hegseth.

In another recent interview on NewsNation: Dan Abrams Live, Brown was asked whether three of Trump’s most controversial cabinet choices — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel — should be confirmed despite their limited qualifications and highly controversial backgrounds.

Brown reiterated his stance, stating, “They should. And if history tells us every president, regardless of whether you like his choices or not, deserves to have the people around him that he wants.” He added that he took advice and consent “very seriously,” before bragging about his own 94–4 confirmation as ambassador. While acknowledging that some people “may not like” certain nominees, he noted that “Trump does like these nominees.”

Under former President Barack Obama, Brown’s feeling about Democratic nominees was very different, and sought to block far more qualified nominees than those he supports now.

In 2015 he singled out Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Defense nominee, labeling him as “rubber stamp.” Brown tweeted “#justsayno” and called on senators to oppose the nomination.

Carter was widely regarded as a highly qualified nominee for Secretary of Defense with an extensive background in defense policy, national security, and academic research across both the private and public sector.

Carter was ultimately confirmed by a resounding 93–5 vote, with then New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) among those who supported him.

Brown also defended Senate Republicans who delayed the confirmation of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense in 2014, insisting they had a right to meticulous oversight.

“They have some very real concerns, and they should have their questions answered,” Brown said, adding that senators “have the right to inquire and do their due diligence and be satisfied before they take that very important vote.”

Brown’s willingness to support Trump’s underqualified Secretary of Defense nominee while opposing a more qualified candidate under a Democrat could be seen as a willingness to put political gain ahead of US military readiness.

Brown, a longtime Massachusetts political figure, has all but formally announced a run for the 2026 New Hampshire senate seat currently held by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who currently serves as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs committee.