The public has a right to know if the leader is having an extramarital affair. It could affect their ability to perform their job well because they may have divided attention and loyalty. Moreover, it's a matter of national security since a leader who is unfaithful might be blackmailed or manipulated into compromising state secrets.
The leader's personal life can also show how much integrity he/she has, which impacts his/her decision making. So, should leaders' private lives be made public?
1) Public scrutiny
In the US, many politicians' sexual affairs have been exposed after being elected or even during their tenure due to the Freedom of Information Act and social media. Some have resigned while others were impeached because of scandals like this. In Canada, Justin Trudeau admitted cheating on his wife but won reelection anyway. Yet, some believe that such events are irrelevant as long as they don't interfere with work performance.
2) Morality
A leader needs to set a good example for society by being honest and faithful to his/her spouse. This would make him/her more credible in making policies regarding family values. On the other hand, a leader is still human with flaws, so we shouldn't expect perfection from them. Besides, everyone makes mistakes; it doesn't mean you're not fit to lead just because you had an affair once.
3) Security concerns
If a president has an affair, he/she could easily get blackmailed if caught by someone who knows about it. It happened before when John F. Kennedy was president; his mistress Marilyn Monroe was linked to Communist sympathizers. Also, a leader's loyalty may be divided between his/her country and lover, creating internal conflicts that could negatively affect national security decisions.
4) Impact on job performance
If a leader's attention is split between two women (or men), it may lead to distraction, decreased productivity, and poor decision-making skills.
Donald Trump said he didn't know anything about North Korea after sleeping with Stormy Daniels during a crisis meeting with Kim Jong Un. He also ignored briefings because he wanted to tweet about Russia's collusion investigation instead of focusing on important issues like immigration reform or healthcare reform.
5) Influence on policy decisions
When a politician cheats on their wife/husband, they are likely to support anti-adultery laws or oppose gay marriage rights as well.
This doesn't always happen since some leaders support both causes despite being unfaithful themselves.
Bill Clinton voted for same-sex marriages while having affairs throughout his presidency.
There are pros and cons to making leaders' private lives public knowledge. Some say we should only care about their work ethic, while others argue that morality matters too.
It depends on what you value more in your leader - honesty and integrity or efficiency at all costs.
Should the private sexual life of a leader be considered a legitimate concern of national interest, and why?
The question about whether the private sexual life of a leader should be a matter of public concern is a debatable issue. Some people believe that it should not be because they argue that leaders are individuals with their personal lives that do not affect their public duties. Others think that leaders who lead an immoral lifestyle may not have the moral authority to guide others on proper conduct.