In a surprising turn of events, former Vice President Mike Pence has come out against one of Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks as the former president assembles his team for a potential second term. Pence urged Senate Republicans to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, citing Kennedy’s stance on abortion rights.
“The Trump-Pence administration was unapologetically pro-life for our four years in office,” Pence said in a statement released by his conservative non-profit, Advancing American Freedom. “There are hundreds of decisions made at HHS every day that either lead our nation toward a respect for life or away from it, and HHS under our administration always stood for life.”
Pence’s opposition to Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic, adds to the growing concern among health experts and Democrats about his fitness for the top health job. Prominent medical professionals have warned that Kennedy’s elevation represents a “clear and present danger to the nation’s health” and would be a “catastrophe” given his embrace of debunked health-related conspiracy theories.
Gaetz Also Faces Tough Road to Confirmation
Meanwhile, another of Trump’s controversial picks, Congressman Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, is facing bipartisan warnings that he faces “an uphill battle” to win confirmation in the Senate, despite Republicans holding a slim majority. Gaetz resigned from his House seat on Wednesday, effectively suspending the planned release of an ethics committee report into allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
“For me the message to the administration is simply that Matt Gaetz has a very long, steep hill to get across the finish line and it will require the spending of a lot of capital,” North Dakota Republican Senator Kevin Cramer told the Washington Post.
Several Republican Senators, including Joni Ernst of Iowa, Dan Newhouse of Washington, and John Cornyn of Texas, have demanded the release of the ethics report before any confirmation hearing for Gaetz. The potential Attorney General nominee is just one of several polarizing picks by Trump that may test the loyalty of the incoming Republican Senate majority.
Democrats Outraged Over Kennedy Nomination
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats quickly expressed outrage at Kennedy’s nomination. Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts vowed to “fight back in Washington to protect the integrity” of federal public health agencies if Kennedy is confirmed:
“RFK Jr is a conspiracist & quack who threatens the health of Americans. He’s not simply angling for more sunshine & exercise (no one disagrees with that). He seeks to overturn evidence-driven, peer-reviewed research on medicines & more,” Auchincloss posted to X.
Kennedy’s past statements claiming that “there’s no vaccine that is safe and effective” sent shockwaves through the pharmaceutical industry, with shares of major vaccine manufacturers like Moderna, AstraZeneca, and GSK plummeting on the news of his nomination. The scion of the famous Democratic political dynasty told NBC that he “won’t take away anybody’s vaccines” if confirmed, but doubts remain about his suitability for the role.
Trump’s Other Controversial Picks Draw Scrutiny
Beyond Kennedy and Gaetz, Trump’s other high-profile nominations are also raising eyebrows. Doug Burgum, the Republican governor of North Dakota, was tapped for Interior Secretary, putting him in charge of national parks and public lands. Burgum’s strong ties to the fossil fuel industry are seen as a red flag by environmental advocates, who worry about his willingness to grant drilling and mining permits on federal land.
For Director of National Intelligence, Trump named former Democratic Congresswoman turned Republican Tulsi Gabbard, who was once described by Hillary Clinton as a “favorite of the Russians.” Gabbard’s unorthodox foreign policy views and past controversies are expected to make her a contentious pick as well.
As Trump seeks to assemble a Cabinet in advance of the 2024 election, it remains to be seen whether his penchant for unconventional and often polarizing figures will fly with the Republican Senate majority. The coming confirmation battles are shaping up to be an early test of Trump’s political capital as he mounts another bid for the White House.
Trump’s Other Controversial Picks Draw Scrutiny
Beyond Kennedy and Gaetz, Trump’s other high-profile nominations are also raising eyebrows. Doug Burgum, the Republican governor of North Dakota, was tapped for Interior Secretary, putting him in charge of national parks and public lands. Burgum’s strong ties to the fossil fuel industry are seen as a red flag by environmental advocates, who worry about his willingness to grant drilling and mining permits on federal land.
For Director of National Intelligence, Trump named former Democratic Congresswoman turned Republican Tulsi Gabbard, who was once described by Hillary Clinton as a “favorite of the Russians.” Gabbard’s unorthodox foreign policy views and past controversies are expected to make her a contentious pick as well.
As Trump seeks to assemble a Cabinet in advance of the 2024 election, it remains to be seen whether his penchant for unconventional and often polarizing figures will fly with the Republican Senate majority. The coming confirmation battles are shaping up to be an early test of Trump’s political capital as he mounts another bid for the White House.
