Republican senators spent much of December discussing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccines, sexual misconduct allegations against Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard’s 2017 relationship with then-President Bashar al-Assad. The fate of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet remains uncertain after he spent much of December carefully dodging questions about his 2020 meeting. of Syria.
While some Republican senators have said they fully support Trump’s nomination, others have refrained from supporting some of the more controversial nominees for now. There is.
The dynamics have added uncertainty to the process as Republicans prepare to win a four-seat Senate majority in January and President Trump has aggressively pushed for immediate confirmation of Cabinet members. .
It is not unusual for senators to wait until after confirmation hearings to make their decisions public. But Republicans are under more pressure than usual as President Trump and his allies have made it clear they are willing to confront senators who don’t go along with them.
“Donald Trump just gives us control of the Senate,” the president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., warned during a media appearance this month. “Without it, you will be relegated to insignificance.” So far, there has been one casualty in the process. Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from the race to become attorney general after senators raised personal concerns. But Mr. Trump has enthusiastically supported the remaining nominees, including Mr. Kennedy for secretary of Health and Human Services, Mr. Hegseth for secretary of defense, and Ms. Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
Cabinet hearings begin in mid-January
Hearings will begin by mid-January, before President Trump takes office, so senators will soon decide how much scrutiny they will give to the nominees and whether they intend to vote against any of them. need to be determined. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, so if Democrats unite in opposition, Trump will not lose more than three votes for any nomination.
The outcome of the confirmation process and the level of opposition in the Senate will likely set the tone for Trump’s term and his relationship with Congress, which was often chaotic during his first term. He has often clashed with the Senate in particular, but he has signaled he expects Republican senators to be more compliant this time around.
“The important thing is not to get those who support it on committees, but to keep those who oppose it out of committees,” said the Oklahoma senator, who is one of President Trump’s biggest allies in the Senate and frequently speaks with him. Markwayne Mullin said.
While many Senate Republicans are anxious to show as much loyalty to President Trump as possible, a few have made it clear they will defend the party’s “advice and consent” role. Notable senators include moderate Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and freshman Sen. John Curtis of Utah.
Asked about the scrutiny of President Trump’s nominees, Curtis said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” “If you want to praise my work, please join me.” “This is my job. It’s my constitutional responsibility.” Still, even moderate senators have avoided directly criticizing Trump’s picks. And there is no record of any Republican running against a candidate.
Democrats are likely to support much of President Trump.
Several of Trump’s nominees are expected to advance to confirmation, possibly including Democratic votes. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), along with several other Democrats, intends to support Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador. showed.
But for more controversial candidates, party unity will be key.
One of the candidates Trump has the most trouble with is Hegseth, a veteran Fox News host who is seen as inexperienced and has publicly questioned whether women should serve in combat. I am doing it. He also faces allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, which he denies. But it’s all because some senators paused, despite President Trump’s enthusiastic support.
Hegseth is under particular pressure from Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst. He is a military veteran himself and has worked to combat sexual assault in the military. She has met Hegseth several times but has not yet said she would support him. She will have the opportunity to question him publicly and face-to-face during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, scheduled for Jan. 14.
Gabbard’s hearing has not yet been set, but senators could also question her publicly and confidentially about her trip to Syria after the U.S. severed diplomatic relations.
Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear echoes of pro-Kremlin talking points in her commentary.
President Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after rebel forces seized control of Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s 50-year rule.
Senate leaders request private hearing
Republican senators have largely refrained from publicly raising concerns about Gabbard’s foreign ties, but nearly 100 former U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have told Senate leadership that They are asking for a closed hearing to be scheduled so they can fully review the government’s documents on her.
Senators have been more openly skeptical of President Kennedy, who has long had doubts about the use of some vaccines.
In response to a New York Times report that one of his advisers had filed a petition to revoke the approval of a polio vaccine in 2022, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying, “Proven treatment… “Efforts to undermine public confidence in the United States are not just ill-informed; they are dangerous,” and “those who seek Senate consent to serve as the next government avoid even the appearance of association.” It would be wiser to make such an effort.
McConnell, who contracted polio as a child, will leave leadership next year but will remain in the Senate. All eyes will be on his vote as he assumes a new role that frees him from leadership responsibilities after years of tense relations with Trump.
Like McConnell, many senators take an “advice” approach, telling nominees what they need to do to be confirmed.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has told every candidate he’s ever met to “go out and look at what the press is saying about you, find your top 10, and find a good solution to why it’s not.” Please use a plan to terminate the conversation.” you”.
Additionally, Tillis said, “I have to do well on committees.”
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