Trump team lambasts ‘60 Minutes’ over Cabinet picks

President-elect Donald Trump’s people bashed CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday for its opening remarks about his Cabinet picks.

Scott Pelley started the show by saying, “This past week, Republicans won the House majority, and President-elect Trump made nominations to his Cabinet. Some nominees appear to have no compelling qualifications other than loyalty to Trump.”

He specifically mentioned Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Mr. Trump tapped as secretary of state; Pete Hegseth, chosen as defense secretary; former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, nominated as attorney general; former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, named for director of national intelligence; and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen as Health and Human Services secretary.

“It’s up to the new Republican majority in the Senate to decide whether these nominees are equipped to represent the American people,” Mr. Pelley said.

Trump allies and recent administration picks were quick to defend the selections and call out the show.

“This is exactly why we rebuffed @60Minutes for an interview during the campaign,” Steven Cheung, the president-elect’s new communications director, posted on X Sunday.

“Their disgusting bias & unhinged ‘reporting’ are out of touch with everyday Americans who voted for President Trump,” he said. “60 Minutes is an outdated relic of the past. CANCEL!”

Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt also chimed in, saying on Mr. Cheung’s post, “It can never be fixed and I hope as WH Comms Director you guide every member of senior staff and Cabinet secretaries away from it and all relics of legacy media that provide outtakes for social media.”

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, asked if the clip from the show was a “parody.”

Karoline Leavitt, who will be Mr. Trump’s White House press secretary, slammed the show for saying Mr. Hegseth has “no government experience.”

“NEWSFLASH: The Pentagon is full of people with decades of ‘government experience’ and they just failed their 7th audit in a row,” she wrote on X. “The American people reelected President Trump with a resounding mandate because they want a drastic change. That’s why he’s choosing change-makers like Hegseth to join him in the Swamp. 60 Minutes doesn’t get it. They never will.”

Some of Mr. Trump’s Cabinet selections have caused debate among lawmakers in both chambers, with a number cheering the nominees and others questioning whether a few can be confirmed by the Senate.