Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) spoke during Friday's confirmation hearing about Governor Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security. (Republican, South Dakota). .
At the start of the hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, top Republicans Thune and Cramer stood on either side of Noem in a show of solidarity.
Thune's enthusiastic endorsement pointed to the “disarray at our southern border and the Biden administration,” which has led to “a plethora of threats to our nation, from terrorists entering the country to cross-border criminal activity such as drug trafficking.” This was made after he said, “The country has become vulnerable to security concerns.''
he said:
I think it's well documented and I think it's time to fix it. And we've appointed someone by the president who I believe has the ability, the qualifications, the experience and, frankly, the determination and toughness to solve the problem. This is a very difficult problem and a solution is desperately needed.
Thune added that he looks forward to “the committee acting on her nomination” and plans to vote for her on the Senate floor.
“I look forward to this committee acting on her nomination, and I look forward to voting her on the floor of the United States Senate to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,” Thune said. added.
In her opening statement, Noem thanked Trump, voters, Cramer and Thune for their support.
“I want to thank President-elect Donald J. Trump for his confidence in my leadership and the people of South Dakota for their incredible support throughout my time in public office,” Noem said, continuing to thank President-elect Donald J. Trump for his continued confidence in my leadership. He praised him, calling him “an irreplaceable person for me.'' That's what I do throughout this process. ”
She then thanked Mr. Thune, calling him “an advisor and friend of mine for many years.”
“And I am very grateful to both of them for their generous support and for coming here this morning to speak on my behalf and introduce me to this committee,” she added. Ta.
Noem's strong introduction comes as attorneys general from 20 states urged the Senate on Wednesday to quickly confirm her and Trump's nominees for attorney general, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, to head the FBI. This was done in response to a request.
