Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio said Friday that former President Donald Trump would appoint Democrats to his Cabinet if he wins the November election, and Vice President Harris has made a similar pledge to appoint Republicans if she wins.
“We actually have a lot of great Democratic support, and RFK [Jr.]”And, of course, Tulsi Gabbard, who has endorsed the president in the last few days,” Vance said Friday in an interview on “Fox & Friends,” referring to recent endorsements from both Kennedy and Gabbard, the former congresswoman from Hawaii who left the Democratic Party in 2022.
Vance's comments came shortly after Democratic presidential candidate Harris, in her first interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Thursday, said she would consider appointing Republicans to her Cabinet if she wins the election.
“I think it's important that people with different views and experiences are at the table when the most important decisions are being made,” Harris said, without naming anyone in particular, “and I think it would be beneficial for the American people to have Republicans in my Cabinet.”
In the past, presidents have appointed members of the opposition party or retained certain figures from previous administrations in a show of unity.
Former President Obama had several Republicans in his administration, including keeping Robert Gates as secretary of defense and nominating former Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) as secretary of transportation. Trump retained Robert Work, an Obama appointee, as deputy secretary of defense early in his administration until a new nominee was confirmed.
Vance, who was picked by Trump as his running mate in mid-July, argued that Trump can appeal to a diverse electorate, even if those voters don't agree with all of Trump's policy proposals.
“If you look at the 2024 Trump movement, it's actually a mass common sense movement in American politics,” Vance said. “We don't agree on everything. Of course, not everyone who votes for Donald Trump agrees with us on every policy issue, but we agree on fundamentals.”
“We agree that American energy prices should be cheaper. We agree that we should produce more of our own products here in the United States,” he continued. “We agree that we should close our borders and stop the flow and trafficking of illegal drugs. This is just basic common sense.”
In late February, months before joining the Republican ticket, Vance praised Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan, saying she was one of the few members of the Biden administration who was “doing a pretty good job.” He specifically cited Khan's work in enforcing antitrust laws regarding Big Tech.
