Col. Douglas McGregor, a former senior advisor to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller during Donald Trump’s first term, has weighed in on the possibility of Trump selecting neocons Mike Pompeo and Tom Cotton for the position of Secretary of Defense. This follows Trump’s recent statements after being elected as the 47th U.S. president.
McGregor appeared on Judge Andrew Napolitano’s show “Judging Freedom” to discuss the potential appointments. He responded to a question about Pompeo and Cotton being among Trump’s candidates for the defense role, considering their ties to influential donors, including Sheldon Adelson. The discussion raised concerns over the impact of these relationships on future U.S. foreign policy.
During the interview, Napolitano asked, “Given Pompeo and Cotton’s ties to powerful donors, what does this signal about Trump’s next move?”
McGregor emphasized that despite the influence of donors, Trump is now the commander-in-chief and must prioritize American interests in his decisions. He acknowledged the pressure from political donors but stressed that Trump’s focus remains on protecting U.S. citizens and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
“Well, let’s keep in mind that he’s now on his way to being commander-in-chief,” McGregor responded. “While the donors exert enormous influence, as you rightly point out, he is now commander-in-chief, and he has to make decisions that he thinks are in the interest of the American people first and foremost.”
McGregor went on to say that while the choice of Pompeo or Cotton remains uncertain, it is important to be patient and wait for Trump’s final decision. He emphasized that “personnel is policy,” referencing advice Trump has received from figures like Ron Paul and Mike Lee.
“We do have to be patient, wait and see,” McGregor said. “I can tell you from my interaction with him that in his heart of hearts, this is someone who is absolutely opposed to war. This is someone who doesn’t want any wars, doesn’t want conflict, and if he’s got the flexibility and maneuver room to avoid it, he will do so.”
McGregor added that Trump’s inclination is to avoid foreign conflicts and focus on domestic concerns. “The most important things happen right here inside the United States, not beyond our borders,” McGregor explained. “He thinks it’s actually very good that we are at a kind of standstill in the Middle East right now. I think, given what’s happening in Ukraine that can be closed out quicker and sooner than obviously the Middle East.”
McGregor also discussed the current state of military readiness, noting that Trump is aware that the U.S. armed forces, especially the Army and Air Force, are not prepared for major war. He highlighted that despite the pressure to pursue international conflicts, Trump is unlikely to make rash decisions.
“We’ve seen in the past though, that regardless of whomever is there, he continues to think for himself and does what he wants in spite of all the advice he gets,” McGregor said. “The good news is that the people in the Defense Department at lower levels, especially in the Army and the Air Force, and I think to a lesser extent the Navy, are all acutely sensitive to the prospects of a major war in the region.”
In closing, McGregor warned against any policy moves that would lead to prolonged conflict, particularly regarding Israel’s borders.
“Expanding the borders of Israel sounds great, and then you go to look at the map and figure out how you are going to reach some sort of amicable agreement with hundreds of millions of people who are affected by those changes,” McGregor noted. “That’s a tall order.”
McGregor concluded by reiterating that Trump’s decisions would ultimately reflect his desire to avoid unnecessary wars. “It would be very, very foolish for him to pursue a course of action that guarantees future conflict.”