John Gibbs (government official)

This article is about the American government official. For other uses, see John Gibbs.

John Gibbs
Official portrait, 2018
Administrator of Ottawa County, Michigan
In office January 3, 2023 – February 29, 2024
Preceded by	John Shay
Succeeded by	Jon Anderson
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development
Acting March 2020 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Neal Rackleff
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Stanford University (BS) Harvard University (MPA)

John Gibbs is an American far-right^[1][2][3] politician and political commentator. A member of the Republican Party, Gibbs was a software engineer and missionary before entering politics. During the Donald Trump administration, he held roles in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was acting Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development. Gibbs has a history of making false, inflammatory, and conspiratorial remarks on his Twitter feed.^[4][5]

In July 2020, Trump nominated Gibbs to be director of the United States Office of Personnel Management, but he was never confirmed by the Senate. Gibbs promoted Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He was the Republican nominee for Michigan's 3rd congressional district in the 2022 elections, having defeated incumbent Peter Meijer in the primary, but lost the general election to Democratic nominee Hillary Scholten in a landslide. In early 2023, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, dominated by a newly elected ultraconservative majority, appointed Gibbs county administrator. His time in the role was tumultuous, and in February 2024, the county board fired Gibbs, citing gross misconduct.

Early life and education

Gibbs is a native of Lansing, Michigan.^[6] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Stanford University and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.^[7]

Personal life

Gibbs was raised in the Pentecostal faith and served as a missionary in Japan after studying abroad there. Gibbs later converted to Catholicism and attends the Traditional Latin Mass.^[8]

Career

Business

Gibbs was employed by Symantec, Palm, and Apple as a software engineer. He worked in Japan for the evangelical Christian ministry WorldVenture for nearly seven years and is fluent in Japanese.^[7]

Political commentary

Gibbs is a far-right conspiracy theorist;^[9] he has a history of making false, inflammatory, and conspiratorial remarks on his Twitter feed,^[4][5] including numerous tweets promoting fringe concepts and figures.^[10] On four occasions, he spread the false conspiracy theory that John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, took part in a "Satanic ritual," a claim propagated by far-right bloggers.^[4][11] In October 2016, Gibbs defended an alt-right figure who had frequently posted anti-Semitic comments and had been banned from Twitter.^[4][11] In early 2016, Gibbs used the term "cucks," a derogatory word applied by the far-right to attack moderate Republicans; he has also attacked Democrats as the party of "Islam, gender-bending, anti-police."^[4][11] In a July 2020 interview with the Washington Examiner, in response to criticism of his past remarks, he said, "I don't really see anything to apologize for."^[12] Later, during a Senate testimony, he said, "I regret that it's unfortunately become an issue."^[13]

Trump administration

After working as a political commentator, Gibbs joined the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a political appointee and advisor to Secretary Ben Carson.^[14] He was a frequent contributor to The Federalist, a right-wing website, and wrote in support of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.^[15] He endorsed the notion that incoming federal employees should be "loyal" to Trump.^[16]

Gibbs did not have housing experience before his appointment to HUD.^[14] Gibbs' first position at HUD was director of the Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative. By the time Gibbs was appointed, the Trump administration had already shuttered the Obama-era initiative, and so Gibbs never directed the program. In August 2017, Gibbs became a senior adviser in HUD's Office of the assistant secretary for community planning and development,^[11] and then became acting assistant secretary in March 2020, replacing then-Principal Assistant Deputy Secretary David Woll as head of the agency.

In 2020, Trump nominated Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal workforce of about 2.1 million employees and acts as the executive branch's human resources function.^[10][16] During a September 2020 confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee,^[10] Gibbs deflected questions over past conspiracy tweets.^[15] Senators in both parties expressed concerns about Gibbs' fitness to hold office.^[16] His nomination was opposed by federal employees' associations, including the National Treasury Employees Union and Senior Executives Association, which cited Gibbs' history of inflammatory comments and expressed concerns about his commitment to the merit system.^[16]

Gibbs' nomination was "held over" by the committee in September 2020, meaning that he did not receive a vote.^[16] He was never confirmed by the Senate, and his nomination lapsed in January 2021 at the end of the 116th Congress.^[17] In the final months of the Trump administration, Trump appointed Gibbs as a member of the administration's 1776 Commission.^[18]

After Trump was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2020, Gibbs promoted Trump's false claims that the election was "stolen" from him.^[19] Gibbs later continued to push election falsehoods while running for a seat in Congress in 2022.^[19]

2022 congressional campaign

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan § District 3

In November 2021, Gibbs announced his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 3rd congressional district. He ran in the Republican primary election against incumbent congressman Peter Meijer, who was one of ten House Republicans to vote to impeach President Trump over the January 6 United States Capitol attack.^[13] Gibbs ran as a far-right candidate.^[1][2][3] Trump endorsed Gibbs a few days after he announced his candidacy.^[20][21] The district is based in Grand Rapids.^[5]

During the Republican primary campaign, Gibbs made his Trump endorsement and support for false election claims the centerpieces of his candidacy. He continued to deny that Joe Biden had been legitimately elected president in 2020,^[21][22] and falsely claimed that the 2020 election results were "mathematically impossible".^[23] He criticized Meijer for voting to impeach Trump, as well as for voting for supporting U.S. humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and for voting in favor of bipartisan gun safety legislation following a gun massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.^[19]

In the final days of the primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee bought TV ads designed to raise Gibbs' profile, believing that Meijer would be the more difficult opponent in the general election.^[1][24] On August 2, 2022, Gibbs defeated Meijer in the primary election.^[5] Meijer said he would not support Gibbs in the November election.^[25]

In September 2022, CNN reported that as a student at Stanford, Gibbs founded a self-described think tank called the Society for the Critique of Feminism. The group's webpage said that women do not "posess [sic] the characteristics necessary to govern" and that women should not have the right to vote. A spokesperson for the Gibbs campaign responded "Of course, John does not believe that women shouldn't vote or shouldn't work." Gibbs said the site "was made as a satire, of trolling against the liberals on campus."^[26]

In the general election, Democratic nominee Hillary Scholten flipped the district and defeated Gibbs, winning by a margin of 13 points.^[19][5][27]

Ottawa County Administrator

In 2022, a new ultraconservative majority was elected to the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, as part of a slate supported by a group called Ottawa Impact.^[28][29] On January 3, 2023, the new commission—led by Chair Joe Moss and Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea, who co-founded Ottawa Impact—approved a resolution that fired the previous county administrator and immediately hired Gibbs.^[30][31]

Gibbs soon came into conflict with county commissioners and employees.^[30] In July 2023, the deputy county administrator resigned (effective August 4, 2023), citing a poor working relationship with Gibbs; the deputy wrote in his resignation letter that Gibbs had a "pattern of concerning administrative decisions" and said that Gibbs had not adequately communicated with him or complied with county policies on hiring personnel.^[28]

In August 2023, Gibbs hired a new senior executive aide, but refused to reveal the name of the aide to the county commissioners.^[32][33] It was later revealed that Gibbs' new hire was Jordan Epperson, an 23-year-old ultraconservative aide to Michigan legislator Neil Friske, a member of the "Grand New Party" far-right faction of Michigan Republicans.^[33][34] Gibbs had sought the creation of a "senior executive aide" in place of an earlier "executive assistant" position; Gibbs narrowly won the county commission's approval for the upgraded position (which cost an additional $37,000 in compensation) in March 2023.^[33] Gibbs argued that he needed an assistant to serve as his "body man" and chief of staff.^[33] Emails obtained by the press under Michigan's freedom-of-information laws show that Gibbs ordered Epperson's hiring despite objections from other county officials.^[33] Gibbs selected Epperson although he had one only one of the five "mandatory criteria" listed in the county's job posting, picking him over the other finalist, who had two decades' more experience and more of the required qualifications.^[33] The other finalist subsequently sued the county for age discrimination.^[30]

In early 2024, several county employees and commissioners alleged serious misconduct by Gibbs. Allegations included that Gibbs had threatened to kill the county's corporation counsel; that he repeatedly made disparaging and sexual comments about female officials; that Gibbs had created a hostile work environment, including by asking a county employee to bug his office with a hidden camera to record discussions; that Gibbs had disparaged commissioners for their Protestant faith; and that Gibbs was insubordinate to the county commission.^[29] Gibbs sought a $630,000 payment from the county in exchange for his resignation.^[29] In early February, the Commission voted to remove hiring authority from Gibbs.^[30] In a special meeting on February 22, 2024, the Commission voted to place Gibbs on paid administrative leave.^[29][30] Through his attorney, Gibbs denied all wrongdoing.^[29] On February 29, 2024, the Ottawa County Board voted 10–1 to fire Gibbs, passing a motion to determine that he has "been dishonest, committed gross misconduct, and/or committed willful malfeasance" and thus to terminate his contract for cause.^[35]

Electoral history

2022 Michigan's House of Representatives election for District 3 - Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Gibbs	54,065	51.8
	Republican	Peter Meijer (incumbent)	50,271	48.2
Total votes			104,336	100.0

2022 Michigan's House of Representatives election for District 3^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Hillary Scholten	185,989	54.87
	Republican	John Gibbs	142,229	41.96
	Libertarian	Jamie Lewis	6,634	1.96
	Working Class	Louis Palus	4,136	1.22
Total votes			338,988	100.0
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. Ax, Joseph (July 26, 2022). "In risky midterm strategy, Democrats boost far-right candidate in Michigan race". Reuters. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
2. Weisman, Jonathan (July 26, 2022). "Democrats Aid Right Candidate Against Republican Who Backed Impeachment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
3. Swasey, Benjamin (July 26, 2022). "Democrats again meddle in a GOP primary, this time in Michigan". NPR. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
4. Kaczynski, Andrew (July 22, 2020). "Trump's pick to head Office of Personnel Management spread 'satanic' conspiracy theory, called Democrats party of 'Islam' and 'gender-bending'". CNN.
5. Edmondson, Catie (August 3, 2022). "Meijer's Defeat Shows Republican Intolerance for Trump's Antagonists". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
6. "John Gibbs HUD". Silicon Harlem. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
7. Mazmanian, Adam (July 21, 2020). "Trump taps HUD official to lead OPM". Federal Soup. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
8. Valentine, Tommy (July 26, 2022). "CatholicVote Announces Endorsement of John Gibbs". CatholicVote.org (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2022.
9. Markay, Lachlan (July 26, 2022). "Democrats boost right-wing challenger to House Republican who voted to impeach Trump". Axios. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
10. Yoder, Eric (September 10, 2021). "He tweeted about a conspiracy theory and "gender bending." Now Trump wants him to run the Office of Personnel Management". The Washington Post.
11. Kaczynski, Andrew (March 8, 2018). "Senior adviser at HUD spread conspiracy theory that Clinton campaign chairman was Satanist". CNN.
12. Crilly, Rob (July 30, 2020). "Trump nominee rejects criticism over tweets". Washington Examiner. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
13. Nann Burke, Melissa (November 15, 2021). "Trump staffer Gibbs launches campaign for Congress in district held by Meijer". The Detroit News.
14. Jan, Tracy (September 20, 2018). "Ben Carson's HUD: Political loyalty required, no experience necessary". The Washington Post.
15. Mazmanian, Adam (September 10, 2020). "OPM nominee deflects questions about conspiracy tweets". Federal Computer Week.
16. Wagner, Erich (September 16, 2020). "TSP Board Nominees Advance From Committee, But Vote on OPM Nominee Postponed". Government Executive.
17. "PN2103 — John Gibbs — Office of Personnel Management, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". Congress.gov. United States Congress.
18. Weigel, David (November 16, 2021). "The Trailer: Democrats say Build Back Better can save them. Does their data back that up?". The Washington Post.
19. McVicar, Brian (July 22, 2022). "Gibbs banking on Trump support, grassroots energy in race against DeVos-backed Meijer". MLive.
20. Greenwood, Max (November 12, 2021). "Trump endorses primary challenger to Peter Meijer in Michigan". The Hill.
21. St. Clair, Price (August 1, 2022). "The Trump Loyalist Who's Challenging Peter Meijer in Michigan". The Dispatch.
22. McVicar, Brian (June 2022). "Peter Meijer, John Gibbs at odds over Trump, baseless election fraud claims". MLive.
23. Dale, Daniel (July 1, 2022). "Fact check: Trump-backed Michigan congressional candidate John Gibbs falsely claims 2020 election had 'mathematically impossible' anomalies". CNN.
24. Bender, Michael C. (July 26, 2022). "Trump-Pence Ticket, Torn by Jan. 6, Becomes an Unequal Rivalry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
25. "Defeated Rep. Peter Meijer doesn't plan to endorse Republican John Gibbs for Congress". August 10, 2022.
26. Kaczynski, Andrew (21 September 2022). "GOP congressional candidate said US suffered from women's suffrage and praised organization trying to repeal 19th Amendment". CNN. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
27. "Hillary Scholten defeats John Gibbs for west Michigan Congress seat". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
28. Audra Gamble, John Gibbs' deputy resigns, cites 'deep concerns' over Ottawa County leadership, MLive (July 2023).
29. Michael Kransz & Audra Gamble, John Gibbs accused of physical threats, sexist comments, installing secret camera, MLive (February 23, 2024).
30. Sarah Leach, Threats, incompetence: Allegations fly between Ottawa County and John Gibbs, Holland Sentinel (February 23, 2024).
31. Van Gilder, Rachel (January 3, 2023). "New Ottawa County board ousts leaders, hires John Gibbs". WOOD-TV.
32. Audra Gamble, John Gibbs hires new senior assistant, refuses to disclose their name, MLive (August 8, 2023).
33. Sarah Leach, Heavily redacted emails suggest aide's hire was contested, The Holland Sentinel (September 8, 2023).
34. Audra Gamble, Ultra-conservative legislative aide chosen as top assistant to John Gibbs, MLive (August 10, 2023).
35. Taylor Morris, Anna Skog, Ottawa County commissioners fire Administrator John Gibbs, WOOD-TV (February 29, 2024).
36. "2022 Michigan Election Results - General". Michigan Secretary of State. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.