Donald Trump’s Most Controversial Cabinet Picks Face Skeptical GOP Senators
HuffPost
The confirmation battles over Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be a test of how much Trump has changed the Republican Party.
WASHINGTON ― If two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees represent the political gains he’s made over the course of his decade in politics, it would be a pair of former Democrats who endorsed him in 2024 and are now up for top jobs in his administration: Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Both Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman nominated to be director of national intelligence, and Kennedy, the anti-vaccine activist who is Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, have confirmation hearings scheduled this week. And the dual symbols of Trump’s expanding coalition face resistance from what remains of the old-line Republican Party, potentially enough to sink their nominations.
The opposition shows the limits of Trump’s purported ideological transformation of the GOP. Conservative groups are running television ads attacking Kennedy for his support of abortion rights, while the Senate GOP’s national security hawks are skeptical of Gabbard’s past criticism of federal surveillance programs and her fondness for dictators.
“There’s obviously significant questions that we all probably ask in private that will come before the committee,” acknowledged Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who supports both nominees.
Republicans might ask Gabbard about pro-Russia statements she’s made and her secret meeting with former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in 2017.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
In Senate confirmation hearings, he botched the facts about Medicare and Medicaid, two programs he'd oversee as HHS secretary.
Andrew Kloster, a conservative ally, most recently served as general counsel to former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Before a judge issued a temporary restraining order to stop the freeze on federal funding, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz denounced Donald Trump.
Trump's deputy chief of staff twisted an argument over the government's freeze of critical programs — to the frustration of the CNN host.
“I think if we execute on these kind of fundamental things, the voters will reward us,” the longtime Democratic strategist argued.
The suspect surrendered to police near the Capitol entrance and allegedly divulged his disturbing plot that also involved Mike Johnson and Scott Bessent.
The president responded to reports of Acosta's departure from CNN by calling the journalist a "sleazebag" and "major loser."
It’s “deeper” than just attempting to sow chaos, warned the former labor secretary.
Critics slammed the Trump White House counselor's comments on Fox News.
Sen. Tim Kaine warned employees that the president's buyout might not be what they think.
Pete Hegseth's plans include an inspector general inquiry into Milley’s work.
Ted Cruz said Trump should "absolutely" release the documents "and also the P. Diddy files," adding, "We deserve to know who is implicated in abusing children.”
The first Trump administration's strategy caused a "brain drain" and a generational blow to American agricultural research. And Trump’s not finished.
U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.
The symbolic resolution would only have condemned pardons for the most violent rioters, but Republicans have mostly moved on from criticizing the Capitol riot.
The president’s promised mass deportation efforts continue to gain steam.
Rep. Rich McCormick told CNN that he worked his way through high school.
Richard Nixon tried the same thing Donald Trump is trying in not spending money Congress has already approved. It did not end well.