Nashville Standard

United States Senator Bill Hagerty, representing Tennessee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, recently appeared on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports. During the segment, he addressed what he described as "Democrats’ fake hysteria" regarding President Donald Trump’s cabinet selections.

Senator Hagerty specifically mentioned Matt Gaetz, emphasizing his role in channeling public frustration towards the Department of Justice (DOJ). "It’s amazing to me that people are reacting the way they are and what you just showed," Hagerty stated. He referenced past controversies involving the DOJ, including allegations about spying using a "fake Clinton dossier" during Trump's first campaign and claims of DOJ interference in the 2020 election.

Hagerty highlighted public discontent with the DOJ: “The American public has completely lost faith in the DOJ." He cited instances such as alleged surveillance at school board meetings and praised Gaetz for standing against these actions. According to Hagerty, these concerns influenced voter decisions: "That’s what the American public voted for."

Discussing historical actions by the DOJ, Hagerty accused them of collaborating with Big Tech to censor information related to Hunter Biden's laptop during the 2020 election cycle. He argued this contributed to Joe Biden's electoral success: "This DOJ has got huge problems."

On cabinet appointments, Hagerty advocated for a swift confirmation process for Trump's appointees. Recalling his own experience with confirmation delays, he said, "We need to allow President Trump...to fill his cabinet and get to work."

Finally, Hagerty expressed support for Pete Hegseth over current appointees like Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Highlighting Hegseth's qualifications from Princeton and Harvard, he critiqued current defense management under Austin. “They need to stop working on pronouns and get back to lethality," he remarked.