Woodward: Trump recreating 'imperial presidency' with inexperienced appointees

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward said Monday that President-elect Trump appears to be trying to recreate the “imperial presidency” by selecting appointees with little relevant experience to their nominated posts.

Woodward criticized Trump’s selection of Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, in an interview on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki." The former White House press secretary-turned-cable host asked him directly whether he thinks the Fox News host was equipped to do the job.

“Somebody should get that job who knows the military and has had also management experience,” Woodward said of Hegseth. “From what I read about him, no, he doesn’t.”

He added that he did not think Hegseth had the necessary management experience to lead the Pentagon, and he suggested Trump intentionally picked the news host with that in mind.

“I have known, over the reporting time I’ve had for five decades, 16 secretaries of defense, going back even before I was a reporter, Robert McNamara. And they have to know management. They have to know what the responsibility is," Woodward said. "They have to know where the levers of power are. And in this appointee, I see none of that.”

“Now, you have to ask yourself, why wouldn’t Trump want somebody who at least has some experience? He’s trying to re-create the imperial presidency," he continued. "He is trying to say, Ah. I can do whatever I want. It’s up to me alone.”

When Psaki responded saying, “And he doesn’t want them to have the power,” Woodward added, “He doesn’t want to share it.”

He also criticized Trump’s appointment of former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — who recently joined the Republican Party — to be director of national intelligence. Both nominees have drawn scrutiny in recent days. While news has surfaced that Hegseth was investigated as part of a 2017 sexual assault incident, Gabbard’s Russia-aligned positions have generated concern across the political spectrum as well.

“Well, what’s the goal? What's the purpose? You know, there are all kinds of people with various political persuasions who have enough experience to run the Pentagon, but he picks someone who isn't even near it, and you have to say, ‘What is the goal?’” Woodward replied, when asked about Gabbard.

“Having written three books on Trump, spent hours with him, the goal is to give him all the say, all the power,” he continued, adding, “Why do you want somebody who doesn't know what they're doing? Check engine light has just gone off, and we pulled into the wrong store."

"Makes no sense, and it is a form of giving his middle finger to the American people," Woodward said.