When a new president is elected, he names his nominees to serve in the cabinet and for other administration roles, all of which require Senate confirmation. The Senate has a constitutionally mandated power to “advise and consent” on such nominations. In the past few decades, the vast majority of announced cabinet picks have been confirmed, although, in most administrations, a nominee or two will withdraw in advance for whatever reason. No cabinet pick has been rejected by the full Senate since John Tower, who was President George H.W. Bush’s nominee for
With Donald Trump returning to the presidency in January, he has announced his own slate of cabinet picks, although some of them have been rather controversial. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz was nominated for attorney general, although he withdrew from consideration for somewhat obvious reasons. Other picks, like Pete Hegseth (Defense) and Robert F. Kennedy. Jr. (Health and Human Services), have been controversial for other reasons, although Trump has the advantage of a GOP Senate majority and will presumably get them through, provided there are no Republican defections.
Trump, on the morning of New Year’s Eve, took to X to declare how unfair it is for Democratic Senators to talk about blocking his picks.
“We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees,” the president-elect said on the platform, choosing to use X rather than Truth Social this time. “They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them to do that. We have a Country to run and many big problems to solve, mostly created by Democrats. REPUBLICANS, BE SMART AND TOUGH!!!”
We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees. They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2024
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Most of Trump’s picks for cabineet positions will likely be confirmed without incident, such as Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, who is himself a sitting U.S. Senator. Scott Bessent appears unlikely to face major opposition for confirmation as Secretary of the Treasury.
It would appear the only Trump cabinet picks in much danger of tough confirmation fights are Hegseth, who has been accused in the past of everything from sexual misconduct to drunken workplace behavior, and Kennedy, who has pushed some wildly esoteric ideas about vaccines and other longstanding tenants of modern medicine. Both will likely have tough confirmation hearings where they will be asked about such things.
The key will be whether any Republican Senators defect while picking a fight with Trump in the process. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who has been a voice against sexual assault in the military, may feel compelled to consider voting against Hegseth. However, the senator, who is up for reelection in 2026, is also facing pressure to support the Defense Secretary nominee.
Here’s your so-called “historic landslide,” ya lying, manipulating narcissistic egomaniac con man & grifting JACKASS.
You won by a whopping 1.7% which ranks near dead last out of all our elections.
GFY. https://t.co/bBs1ygZtd3 pic.twitter.com/XregXlfLbx— Edward Herrel (@haskell420) December 31, 2024
However, contrary to Trump’s X message, there’s nothing untoward or wrong about the Democrats applying scrutiny to Trump’s nominees, no matter how strong an electoral mandate he won in November.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
