As President-elect Donald Trump finalizes his cabinet selections ahead of his second term, key Republican senators are signaling that the upcoming confirmation process will be anything but a rubber stamp. In a notable break from the lockstep support Trump enjoyed from his party during his first term, influential GOP figures on Capitol Hill are pledging to put his picks through the wringer.
Lankford: “We’ll Have Lots of Questions”
Leading the charge is Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, the newly minted vice-chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. In a Sunday interview, Lankford made clear that Trump’s nominees will face rigorous vetting, particularly those with controversial backgrounds like former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
“We’ll have lots of questions,” Lankford said of Gabbard, Trump’s pick for National Security Director. The Hawaii politician has drawn fire for past meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and for promoting Russian disinformation.
– Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
While Lankford stopped short of saying he would vote against any of Trump’s selections, his remarks represent a notable shift in tone for a party that rarely broke ranks with the president during his turbulent first term. They suggest that Trump may face stiffer resistance from within his own party as he seeks to staff his administration with lightning rod figures.
Democrats Slam Picks as Unqualified
Trump’s cabinet choices have also drawn withering criticism from congressional Democrats, who have assailed several key nominees as patently unqualified. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a decorated war veteran, took aim at Pete Hegseth, Trump’s scandal-plagued pick for defense secretary.
“He never commanded a company, let alone battalions, brigades or whole armies,” Duckworth said of Hegseth, whose military experience tops out at the level of platoon leader. “He does not have the experience to run an organization” as vast as the Pentagon.
– Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
The Democratic senator also raised alarms over Gabbard, suggesting the former congresswoman could be “compromised” due to her “troubling relationships with America’s foes.” Gabbard has long faced suspicions of being too close to Russia, with some critics going so far as to call her a “Russian asset.”
Gaetz Sunk, But Rest of Slate Remains Intact
Already, Trump has been forced to pull his first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, amid sexual misconduct allegations and a Republican revolt. But so far, the rest of his announced selections remain in place as the confirmation process looms.
Other contentious picks in the hot seat include:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Appointed to helm the Department of Health, the Democratic scion and environmental lawyer is an outspoken vaccine skeptic who has promoted debunked conspiracy theories.
- Michael Flynn – The former national security adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI before being pardoned by Trump, has been tapped to head the intelligence community.
- Pam Bondi – Plucked to replace Gaetz as AG, the former Florida state attorney has vowed to use the role to seek retribution against Trump’s political enemies, an overtly partisan stance for the nation’s top law enforcement officer.
As the Senate prepares to convene confirmation hearings in January, all eyes will be on Republican lawmakers to see if their oversight bark has any bite. While some, like Oklahoma’s other GOP senator Markwayne Mullin, have pledged fealty to Trump’s prerogative, others in the caucus are hinting that a bumpier road lies ahead.
“Everyone is going to get a fair shake,” Lankford said of the confirmation gauntlet awaiting Trump’s cabinet in the Senate. The question remains – will a “fair shake” be enough to rattle loose any of the president’s more divisive picks?
As the Trump era enters its second act, the confirmation crucible may provide the first clues as to how deeply the politicization and tribalism of the last four years have penetrated the Republican Party – and whether dissenters like Lankford represent a burgeoning opposition or a hollow refrain amidst a MAGA movement as strong as ever.
