By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During a recent wartime briefing campaign, Pete Hegseth’s focus has repeatedly shifted from strategic discussions and coalition-building to criticisms of past presidents, the press, and even allied nations. This departure from the intended agenda, as noted by Will Saletan, has drawn attention to Hegseth’s conduct. These observations are part of a larger discussion available on Bulwark+ Takes, which features exclusive video content and archives for members.
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The question of whether Pete Hegseth holds the dubious distinction of being the dumbest man in the Trump administration is a surprisingly contentious one, with many suggesting the competition is fierce and the field crowded. It’s not a simple matter of pointing a finger; rather, it seems to involve a rather disheartening race to the bottom, where several individuals are consistently put forward as strong contenders for the title.
A significant portion of the discussion, as one might expect, immediately turns to Donald Trump himself. Many argue that he is, in fact, the benchmark for intelligence within his own administration, making it nearly impossible for anyone else to surpass him. His public pronouncements, his social media messages, and his general demeanor are frequently cited as evidence of his profound lack of comprehension and his tendency to inhabit a “fantasy world.” The argument is that, when it comes to sheer cluelessness and an inability to grasp reality, Trump reigns supreme.
However, the debate doesn’t end with the former president. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is another prominent figure consistently mentioned in this unenviable competition. His alleged range of ailments, from “brain worm” to mercury and lead poisoning, and even heavy cocaine usage, are brought up as potential explanations for cognitive impairment. The notion is that, if one is looking for significant brain damage that might lead to questionable decision-making or pronouncements, RFK Jr. is certainly a formidable candidate. Some even go so far as to suggest he’s done more harm than Trump himself, placing him in a very high tier of concern.
When the conversation circles back to Pete Hegseth specifically, descriptions often paint a picture of incompetence and a lack of qualifications. His conduct during a wartime briefing campaign, which reportedly veered off course to include attacks on past presidents, the press, and allies, is highlighted as a prime example of his unsuitability for the roles he has occupied. He’s been characterized as looking like a “snake handling revival tent preacher in an ill-fitting suit,” a visual metaphor that suggests more showmanship than substance and a distinct lack of gravitas or intellectual rigor.
The sheer volume of names that surface when this question is posed is itself telling. Beyond Trump, RFK Jr., and Hegseth, a veritable rogues’ gallery of individuals are put forth as candidates for the title. Names like Kash Patel, Bessent, Howard Lutnick, and Kevin Hassett are casually dropped into the mix, each accompanied by assertions of their profound lack of intelligence. The consensus appears to be that the Trump administration was a “target rich environment” for such distinctions, and many individuals merely operated behind the scenes, their intellectual deficiencies not as readily apparent as those who sought the spotlight.
The idea that someone is “dumb as dirt” is thrown around liberally, but for Hegseth, it’s compounded by suggestions of being “least competent and most unqualified.” While some acknowledge his educational background, citing attendance at Princeton and Harvard, they quickly pivot to labeling him a white supremacist and someone completely out of his depth. Alcoholism is also suggested as a potential factor that may have “fried his brain a bit too,” adding another layer to the assessment of his cognitive capabilities.
The “competition” for the title of dumbest is frequently described as a “race to the bottom,” or a “photo finish.” The analogy of trying to determine which cup of water is “more wet” is used to illustrate the difficulty in distinguishing between candidates who all exhibit a similar level of intellectual deficiency. It’s a situation where, the more you look, the more you find, and the initial candidates are quickly joined by a plethora of others.
Indeed, some argue that while Hegseth might be a strong contender, he might not be the absolute winner. The idea is that many individuals in the administration are “mind-boggingly stupid” and are “fighting like hell for that title.” The challenge, in this view, is less about identifying a single individual and more about acknowledging the pervasive lack of intellect that seemed to characterize the entire administration. It’s a situation where, if you thought a particular person was the dumbest, “just wait until tomorrow” because someone else would inevitably emerge to challenge that assessment. The sheer abundance of choices makes pinpointing a single “king” incredibly difficult.
Even when considering individuals outside the immediate orbit of the Trump administration, like Joe Rogan, the discussion highlights a broader societal concern about what is being amplified and accepted as intellectual discourse. The inclusion of figures like RFK Jr. and Hegseth in such conversations suggests a deeper unease about the quality of leadership and public discourse being presented. The consistent return to Trump as the benchmark, however, underscores the perception that, for all the other contenders, the former president remains the benchmark against which all others are measured in terms of intellectual deficiency.