Tony Schaefer
Appearances
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So Radcliffe was notable in that he's already served as the DNI, I believe. He was appointed to that. He had been nominated before for some senior posts. And I got to tell you, I'm not overly impressed with him. I know this is probably going to get me in trouble. It's going to come out to bite me. But I'm going to say this, and I think you'll agree with me.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Someone going into CIA, and I'm getting this from Jim Woolsey, our friend Jim. Jim has said from his own experience, you need to have been a serving line intelligence officer to fully understand and run CIA. That's from Jim Woolsey, who's not an intelligence officer. So I'm just going with what Jim is saying. So I think there were better, more adequate and effective choices.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Maybe Mike Baker would have been one just saying. Uh, because I think that guy, I'm just, I'm just telling you to be effective. Look, I'm, I'm, I'm trained by you guys. I went through the farm. Uh, I'm just saying that if you're, you need to have the respect of the DO you come on, Mike, you know, if you don't have the DO, you don't run the eights.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Uh, and I know a lot of folks who've never really gained, uh, the respect to the DO. And if you don't have that, you're not really running CIA, just saying. So I'm skeptical, and I'm going to give it a B at this point, based on a little bit of skepticism, since he's not an intelligence.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
And so... Jim Woolsey, I love Jim Woolsey. Jim Woolsey, I thought was a great director. I worked with him when he was director himself. Yeah.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
All right, Tulsi and I are friends. Full disclosure, I just posted a congratulations photo of she and I in her office when she was a Democrat when I was advising her. So Tulsi's been on a long journey of... Both. And I, you know, it's been said, Mike, by several of my Democrat friends, I didn't leave the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party left me. I think Tulsi is of that mind.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Having been an advisor of Tulsi Gabbard, someone who knows her, I think it's a great choice. Now, while she was not on the Intelligence Committee, while she was in Congress, she was on armed services, as you and I both know. I'm a military case officer. DOD has a significant intelligence holding, if you will. NSA is actually DOD. NRO has, you know, NGA. CIA and DOD jointly man NGA.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So there's, you know. So I think based on her experience within Congress, being a lieutenant colonel in the reserves, which I still respect and obviously I think it's a good thing.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
based on her being targeted and on the terrorist watch list, which I did get confirmation from a separate DHS source, I think she is going to go in there and be willing to do some things that other DNIs would not have necessarily been willing to do because they were afraid of upsetting the status quo. So based on that alone, I think I give it an A for what I see is coming. Okay.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
No, that's very interesting.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Well, I don't know. I called Lloyd Austin on. I know Lloyd Austin and I called him the ultimate DEI hire yesterday. So I don't know. I think I'm pretty blunt.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
They do not have budgetary control. Yeah. To your point, Mike, they have no budgetary control. Each entity still has their own budget that they have to justify to Congress. So that was one of the big things. I actually met with Negroponte on this when they formed it.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Ambassador Negroponte was the first DNI, and he and John Layman, my friend, former Secretary of the Navy, they were going back and forth, as this was based on a recommendation from the 9-11 Commission to create this warehousing, if you will, of requirements. And so one of the issues was, and still is, Without budgetary control, you have a hard time being director.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Well, considering I just badmouthed the current guy, I can only go up from here, Mike. So knowing both men. Now, so this is great. You know, this is great. I know both men. I have served with Lloyd Austin. It's documented in my book, Operation Dark Heart, so people can read about that if they want. And I know Pete Hengstead. I've been, you know, friends with Pete for a long time.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Again, full disclosure, I'm friends with Pete. So people just make that with a grain of salt as part of my assessment. He has several things going for him. He's actually got a good degree. He went to Princeton. He went to Harvard. So he's got some education, good education, Ivy League. He's a combat veteran, two Bronze Stars, major.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I don't know if he's still in or not, but he made it to major in the Guard. And he wrote a book, War on Warriors, which he actually was very clear on what he wanted would be willing to do or want to do if he was given a position of power, which now he is. What he doesn't have is links and obligations to the military-industrial complex. This is huge.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
General Eisenhower warned us in his exit briefing, I think it was either 1959 or 60, about the military-industrial complex. That is what has largely influenced the thinking of senior Pentagon leadership regarding any number of things, especially weapons systems. So Lloyd Austin, for example, came out of, I think, Raytheon or something like that. Most of these guys have a revolving door.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Well, he's not in that boys club. He's not in that revolving door. He owes nothing to anybody except President Trump, which means he's going to be loyal to Trump. I give this a solid eight. And I know that may be controversial, but, you know, I think it's an eight. Yeah. So.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I don't know whether you can diversify it to that degree, but the management issue... But the thing is, we don't want to run out of those weapons in three weeks if we have to go to war with China. And I think it's one thing Pete has said. It's one thing to say, hey, we know the Chinese are bad and they made challenges. Okay, we made the right selection of weapons and the amount we need.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
That's what I think, I agree with you, but that's what he's got to look at is how do we overcome that, prevent loss.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
That's what he should be doing. Right. Well, remember, you've got the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. You've got several assistant undersecretaries. He can't do it alone. So I've learned personnel is policy. So it's going to be he's got to pick a really good team who can either complement his strengths or help him overcome his weaknesses.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
And I think Pete's smart enough to know what he doesn't know and look for help.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I think there was either four or five. Yeah, I have to go back and look, but yes, there were a number.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
No doubt. And remember, this is not the first time they picked someone very young to come in with relatively little industrial experience to do this. Remember, John Layman. John Layman was appointed when he was still a serving commander. In fact, I've heard stories Mike, of John Layman, Commander John Layman, showing up to do a trap on an aircraft carrier and the crew freaking out.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
feel that way. No, I'm actually 62 and proudly now able to get discounts at all known eating establishments.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
It's like, you know, that's the Secretary of the Navy. He's like, well, he's just here for reserve duty. He's like, yeah, right. So I'm just saying that this has happened before. In 81, Reagan appointed a very young John Layman to be Secretary of the Navy, to turn the Navy around, and he did it. So just saying. Yeah.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I was serving military case officer for most of my career in our version of the DO, in different organizations within DOD. I ran the first undercover cyber unit, Stratus Ivy, where we did all the things that the IOC now does, if you know what IOC is, the Information Operations folks. I served time in Afghanistan.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I wrote a book about it, Operation Dark Heart, where I served with McChrystal and Lloyd Austin. I actually worked for Lloyd Austin. And after that, I came back, was a whistleblower on 9-11 failures on something called Able Danger. That's how I kind of diverted from my career into politics. And from there, I ended up working and becoming essentially a think tank guy.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Ran the London Center for Policy Research in New York. I currently run something called Project Sentinel. Wrote a couple of books, Operation Dark Heart, regarding my experiences. Was on the Trump transition team in 2016. advised the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Joe Dunford, when he was chairman, ended up advising a bunch of folks like Tulsi and others.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So I ended up kind of getting stuck doing media and politics. So that's why I'm here. And I know these folks because I've worked with them in some form. So I appreciate you giving me the time, Mike, to help inform your audience of some of the things that I've experienced directly. And I hope I better help them understand what's going on with these folks and why Trump or President Trump picked them.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Man, he's kind of the canary in the coal mine, right? Speaking of turning the temperature down. First off, let me say for the record, Matt Gaetz was not abducted by aliens. Whatever they say, that did not happen. Just saying. So let's be clear on that. So let me give two grades on this, Mike, since you put me on the spot here.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So Matt's choice to have Matt be the canary in a coal mine, it's a solid A. It's like, okay, if you want to have distraction from all the other nominees, nominate Matt Gaetz. So that's probably an A to trough more than Gaetz, but it's like, He's the he's the guy they're going to look at regarding the choice. I think I look, I give it a B plus because, well, he's not a law enforcement guy.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
He's willing to do and say things others would not be willing to do. And so I think that that's why people are freaking out, because they know he's going to be fearless. He's got nothing to lose. And come on, let's face it. You and I don't know men who have nothing to lose and and they don't stop. So I think that's what they're afraid. Yeah, there you go.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Look, I was on the transition team in 2016, so I've had some experience making judgments on folks. And having been through and seen this, I think the president, as you said, has a right to do this. So let's go to Marco Rubio. I've met Marco Rubio. I've met the senator. I've met him there in the green room at Fox where you've been before. I think he's someone who understands national security.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
He's got a very even temperament. I think as long as he's willing to do what the president wants done, and he said this publicly, I think he has a potential to be an A minus Secretary of State. And I'm saying that because he's not a new guy. And from what I'm hearing, Mike, they're having crying sessions at the State Department about Marco Rubio coming over. So that's a good sign.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Let's hope they don't resort to having Kool-Aid drinking sessions like they did in Georgetown. That would be bad. But I think it's a good sign that they're freaking out over there. Crying sessions at the Department of State.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
a good choice, she's shown courage And first off, as you know, she called out publicly the chancellors of Yale, of NYU, of Pennsylvania. She was fearless in going after these people. And I think, Mike, she got rid of most of them. I think they all ended up leaving in some form based on her being dogged.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So I think by the fact that the president chose her based on her performance, based on the fact that she can be publicly, I don't want to say in your face necessarily, but she can be very demonstrative in what she wants to get out of people. I think her going to the U.N. is going to be a good thing.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
You know, I was hoping that you would have someone who's going to be able to not only fight the U.N., but be able to go in there and do things necessary. Also build some level of cooperation. So you got to do both. I think there are people in the UN who are willing to work with us. And I think she's got to have, and I think she's got that skill. I think she can go hard when she has to.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
At the same time, I think she's going to earn respect of others. build bridges and make things work. So I think, again, I'm going to go with an A minus with her too, based on the fact that, yeah, we don't know how she's going to perform at the international level, but she's done a fabulous job at the national level so far regarding what she's had to do. So.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
This may be where you and I may have some agreement. I like her. I don't know her. I've never met her. That's not a prerequisite for my judgment. I'm just saying that I know, you know, I've met some of the other folks we're going to be talking about. She's not had law enforcement experience that I know of.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I may be wrong on that, but I don't think she's been someone who actually has had to do anything relating to the core mission of DHS. Now, DHS... While she's got good instincts, she's a good constitutional-focused governor, someone big on economics, DHS doesn't really function economically. That's not their job.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So the one thing that DHS has done I think you and I would agree was horrible was this whole disinformation board they attempted about two years ago with Jankiewicz, the Mary Poppins-singing undersecretary that was going to be doing that. And God, you know what?
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Yeah. At this point, I would say a B minus. A B minus.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I mean, Ryan Zinke was over at Interior when he went into the last ministry. I thought Ryan was a great choice for Interior. So I would have agreed with you. I think she would be better suited in some ways to probably do that.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
I know Tom. I'll just say it. I think it's an A+. Tom has got law enforcement still going for decades. While he's not alike, he is very accurate in his representations in front of Congress, in front of the media. I've heard him speak. I've been in events with him. Uh, I think it's an A plus. I think he'll be able to do the things which president Trump wants.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Uh, he'll be able to do it quickly because he understands the system. And I think he's got a lot, a lot of allies on the inside are going to be willing to help him. And he's going to bring back a morale to the, the border patrol and, uh, help actually do the, and I think he's going to come up with a plan to get rid of, to remove illegal aliens within the next two years. I think it's an A plus.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Let's go with the National Security Advisor, Representative Mike Waltz. Mike and I are friends. I know Mike. I think he's equipped based on both his experience going back in government. You know, he worked with the Bush White House. He's also a combat veteran. He's a special operations guy, an 18 series guy. And he's been in our circle, too, in media. He's actually...
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
Again, another guy I first met at the Fox Green Room in D.C. So this is a good appointment because the one thing he has to do and understand more than others is the mechanisms of governance. That is to say, what is available to the president? How do you manage those resources in real time? And I was talking to one of the deputies over there. And part of the job is requirements.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
What are the requirements that you have to task out to the intelligence community Get that back. Shape a picture. You also direct the Special Operations Forces. They direct elements of CIA. These things are all important. It's almost like a brain stem. You have to understand, but you're the conduit of policy. You're not the policymaker.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | November 16th, 2024: Grading Trump’s Cabinet Appointments & Bombshell UFO Hearing Breakdown
So I think, again, I think I would give it a solid A. It's his choice.