The GOP overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump’s first some cabinet picks, which were among his most popular options. However, as Trump announced more questionable individuals to fill his Cabinet on Wednesday, that unification began to wane.
Yet it was Trump’s Wednesday’s decision to tap Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL ) as attorney general that created the greatest heartburn. The lawmakers who would be tasked with confirming her were also met with a lot of skepticism about her choice of former Republican Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
Gaetz, a House ally, was the subject of a sexual trafficking research led by the same organization he has been asked to lead. Gaetz disputed allegations of wrong, and no charges were brought against him when the Justice Department concluded its investigation.
Gabbard, for her part, has no formal expertise in knowledge and has been accused of propagating Soviet tales.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD ), who is replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY ) as the incoming Senate majority leader, offered a measured response when asked what he thinks about nominees like Gaetz.
” We’re gonna physician and method and look at all the nominees when they come forth, and we’ll see”, he said. ” That’s all gonna happen in the next few weeks we hope”.
But Senate Republicans, particularly the panel’s moderates, cast doubt that Trump’s nominations may be confirmed. Progressives reacted with astonishment.
” I only heard from Matt Gaetz and Tulsi right now.” We all could n’t believe it. We thought they were kidding”, said retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV ). ” I said come on, that’s bulls ***”.
KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL Move
Hegseth election overshadowed
Given that Hegseth is a Fox News personality, Republicans were frequently surprised by his choice, but his candidacy did not elicit the same kind of response as Gaetz or Gabbard did.
Hegseth is regarded very by GOP senators for his military service, with conservatives in the chamber finding his absence from top leadership positions appealing.
” I’m major on Pete. I like Pete. He’s not a Pentagon man, and we need to clean the Pentagon out”, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL ). ” We got way too many admirals”.
Others believed his additional qualifications were being overshadowed by his present job’s focus.
” First off, I see the narrative about a Fox News host, but I have n’t heard the narrative about somebody who’s gotten two bronze stars, as I remember — I think we’ll learn a lot more about his military record”, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Senate Democrats, who will be in the majority next month, doubted that his party’s participation may be significant.
” It’s an unusual choice. I think we have to look very carefully at his requirements”, said Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ” And I think we have to be very, at this point, skeptical”.
Gaetz faces dark journey to confirmation
Gaetz, who serves on the Judiciary Committee in the House, is one of the most divisive members. He was the Republican who spearheaded the Republican Party’s decision to remove previous House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He was known as a hard-liner.
Gaetz has some Republican friends in Congress, especially grassroots conservatives, and do face difficulties in getting a confirmation.
” Look, I love President Trump. I support every single one of his pulls”, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) told the Washington Examiner Wednesday. However, the Senate will not pass this a. And I’d venture to speak with each and every House member to find out how excited we are that he might be leaving and wo n’t ever be confirmed.
Miller slammed Gaetz’s election as a”reckless pick”, but said he’s “happy that he’s out of the House, or will be immediately”.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND ) was still processing the choice when asked about his nomination. ” That’s an uff da”, he said, using a humorous Western term for when hearing bad news. ” Huh, I do n’t know what to make of it. To get determined”.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she was” shocked by the announcement” in a brief interview, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said,” I do n’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general”.
The Department of Justice investigated the Florida senator over sex trafficking offenses involving juveniles last year, complicating Gaetz’s assurance despite Republicans ‘ control of the House. Gaetz would not be charged, according to the Justice Department.
In response to the claims, the Florida senator has denied any wrongdoing.
That demonstrates the importance of the acceptance and guidance process, according to Collins, who is confident that his hearing will raise many questions.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX ), who lost the race to become the Republican Senate majority leader on Wednesday, made more of a reserved response, saying Gaetz could have trouble from the sexual misconduct allegations that surround him.
Gaetz has also been the subject of a distinct House Ethics Committee research because it was his political punishment.
” That may come up”, Cornyn quipped with a grin. ” I mean, I do n’t know whether there’s any basis to it, so I’m sure we’ll be asking a lot of questions”.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL ), who himself was nominated for secretary of state by Trump on Wednesday, struck a more deferential tone when asked about Gaetz’s Senate confirmation.
” I’ve known Matt for a very long time, I think he’d do a tremendous job”, he told the Washington Examiner.
” I may make that determination as it goes through”, Rubio said. ” But I believe he did because the leader deserves a lot of respect as a leader with a mission, and he has a right to surround herself with folks he can trust, especially in a position that is so crucial.”
WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT TRUMP IS PRESIDENT-ELECT
Gaetz finds Freedom Caucus booster
Gaetz is not without some companions in Congress. He and the House Freedom Caucus, who celebrated the election on Wednesday, share a close relationship.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) called Matt Gaetz” a beautiful thoughts who will follow and restore fairness for all and de-weaponize a woke and out-of-control justice system.” ” I want to thank President Donald Trump for choosing a friend for the British people,” said Matt Gaetz.
” He’s a disrupter, and the Department of Justice needs massive disruption”, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX ). ” I think that’s why the leader nominated him”.
But, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) was less emphatic in his confirmation. ” Matt may get great”, he said with a shrug.
Some lawmakers anticipate that because Gaetz resigned from his position on Wednesday and is now in his place, the House Ethics Committee investigation was end.
” We wo n’t do anything to make this happen right away,” the statement read. Once the investigation is complete, the Ethics Committee will meet as a committee”, said House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS ). ” We may therefore return our results. If Matt Gaetz is still a member of Congress, next that may occur, if Matt has resigned, then this ethics research, like many others in the past, did stop”.
WHAT TRUMP DID IN THE OVAL OFFICE ON DAY 1
Rubio backs Gabbard.
Some Republicans support Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence, despite the fact that she did n’t join the GOP until last month.
” No, I like Tulsi a lot”, Rubio said when asked about Gabbard’s earlier disparagements against him as a “warmonger”. Over the past few weeks, we’ve grown closer to each other quite a bit. As a result of that, I admire her dedication to our nation. I do n’t think there will be any issues when you win by the margins that President Trump did, because I really like her.
Elon Musk, a billionaire tech entrepreneur, expressed his congratulations on Gabbard’s election on X, his social media account.
Various conservatives were not happy to ignore her past views on the relationship between America and Russia.
” When you voted for Trump, you voted to put Tulsi Gabbard, a Russian advantage, in charge of our nation’s intelligence”, wrote former 2020 presidential candidate Joe Walsh on X. ” That’s what you voted for. Congrats”.
” Tulsi loves Russia”, said former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a noted anti-Trump Republican, before he slammed Gabbard over her 2017 visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad. ” She loves Assad. Assad is a barber”.
It is unclear whether Gaetz, Gabbard, or Hegseth may eventually live Senate confirmation, and if Trump selects Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a confirmable position, he, too, would probably fight to win over wary senators.
WASHINGTON EXAMINER CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MORE INFORMATION
Playtime sessions can be used to speed up the assurance procedure, but the Senate would have to accept that situation even if it did.
” I often think everyone has good features, OK, but some people, you have to appear harder”, said Manchin.
