President-elect Trump is wrapping up his administration with Cabinet nominations, but their confirmation ultimately depends on the support of a cornerstone Senate that may be skeptical of his appointees.
The president-elect has the power to appoint members of the Cabinet, but Congress has the final say on whether someone is confirmed to a position through a confirmation process.
But while Republicans are expected to hold a majority in the next Congress, several key Republicans who have expressed mixed feelings about Trump's Cabinet picks could influence Senate confirmation.
Senator Mitch McConnell
Longtime Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has had a rocky relationship with Trump over the years, and recently published a new book expressing less flattering views of the president-elect. .
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to reporters after the Republican Strategy Conference at the Capitol on March 8, 2022 in Washington, DC. (J. Scott Applewhite)
According to the book, the Senate minority leader reportedly condemned President Trump as a “fool,” “insane,” “despicable human being,” and “narcissist.”
As President Trump continues to attack his wife, former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, by calling her “Coco Chow,” he said, “I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want to be criticized as much as that vulgar term in 2022.”
After the book's release, McConnell told Fox News Digital, “We're all on the same team now.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is unsure whether President Trump's controversial attorney general nominee, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), will make it through the confirmation process. said.
“I don't think it's a significant nomination for attorney general,” the Alaska Republican said. “We need a serious attorney general, and I look forward to the opportunity to consider a serious attorney general. This person was not on my bingo card.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) speaks during a nomination hearing for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (Al Drago)
Murkowski also expressed surprise to hear that former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was nominated to be secretary of defense.
“It’s amazing,” Murkowski said. “I’m just surprised because he wasn’t among the names of defense secretaries that I heard about.”
senator susan collins
Republican Sen. Susan Collins from Maine said she was “shocked by what he said.” [Gaetz] has been nominated. ”
“He's under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Obviously, the president has the right to nominate whomever he wants, but that's why the FBI background check, the Senate advice and consent process, and the public hearing. “It is also important that “is done'','' she said.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was “shocked by what he said.” [Gaetz] has been nominated. ” (Mark Makela)
Gaetz has been under an ethics investigation by the House of Representatives for several years, looking into allegations of sexual relations with minors, illegal drug use and accepting inappropriate gifts.
senator thom tillis
After Gaetz's nomination, Sen. Thom Tillis (R.N.C.) went through the confirmation process like any other nominee, despite a history of sparring with attorney general nominees on social media. He said it would take time.
But Tillis said the president should choose a candidate who can pass the congressional vetting process.
“The president is entitled to nominate a nominee, and he has an obligation to make sure that nominee passes the vetting and gets a vote on the floor,” a North Carolina Republican told reporters after Gates' nomination. ” he said.
But Tillis suggested the public should not be shocked if the former Florida congressman is not confirmed.
Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C., departs from a luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on June 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker)
“I'm going to think of Matt Gaetz the same way I would think of anyone else, but if they don't do their homework, don't be surprised if they fail, because they've probably already done that work. “Sho,” he added. “Nothing surprises me in politics, nothing. And I'm fine with this. But at the end of the day, we have a process, so we just go through with it.”
Tillis added, “We're focusing on a defensible resume and really good vetting. We're going to play it off that he has a chance, he doesn't have a chance, and he doesn't have a chance.”
Senator Todd Young
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who has not publicly supported Trump in this year's Republican presidential nomination race, could also be the deciding vote for cabinet confirmation.
The Republican senator previously told reporters he would not support Trump's 2024 presidential bid, in part because of the former president's “misjudgment” regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana) said he will not support President Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Alex Wong)
When asked about Gaetz's nomination, he did not respond and instead began praising Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), President Trump's nominee for secretary of state.
Senator-elect John Curtis
Utah Republican John Curtis, recently elected as the remaining successor to retiring Sen. Mitt Romney, said the Senate should have the final say on whether President Trump's nominees are confirmed. He said he was thinking about it.
“Senator-elect Curtis believes that all presidents deserve a degree of respect in selecting and nominating their teams,” Corey Norman, Mr. Curtis' chief of staff, said in a statement. . “He also believes strongly in the Senate’s important role in approving or rejecting nominations and is fully committed to it.”
Sen.-elect John Curtis (R-Utah) arrived at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for the Senate Republican leadership race. (Kevin Dietch)
Other senators have also expressed uncertainty about Gaetz's potential confirmation.
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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Gaetz has an “uphill climb” ahead of him, while Sen. Kevin Cramer (R.N.D.) said, “Everyone except Gaetz. I think so,” he said. It's very doable – it may not be pretty, but it's doable. ”
