President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations for key administration roles are currently engaging with Capitol Hill, facing examination from Republican senators in advance of potential confirmation hearings next month. Among these picks, several are encountering controversy and are expected to address tough questions from the Senate.
Pete Hegseth, nominated for Pentagon leadership, is contending with allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety, which he has denied. Tulsi Gabbard, selected for the Director of National Intelligence position, is under scrutiny regarding her stances on Russia and her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Kash Patel, a long-time Trump ally chosen as the prospective FBI Director, has declared his commitment to confront the alleged “deep state” and perceived adversaries of Trump.
Kash Patel meeting with Senator John Cornyn on Capitol Hill
Kash Patel departs after a meeting with Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, in his Capitol Hill office in Washington D.C., on Monday, December 9, 2024.
In a recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” President Trump defended his selections.
Patel’s schedule on Monday included meetings with Senators John Cornyn, Joni Ernst, Mike Lee, Shelley Capito Moore, and Chuck Grassley.
Cornyn’s Perspective on Patel’s Nomination
Senator John Cornyn, a prominent Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, shared his insights following his meeting with Kash Patel. Cornyn indicated a leaning towards supporting Patel, suggesting that some of Patel’s more provocative viewpoints, such as suggestions to dismiss FBI agents or relocate the FBI headquarters from Washington, might be “hyperbolic” in nature.
“My stance, as conveyed to Mr. Patel, is that no individual should endure the experiences President Trump faced due to a perceived partisan bias within the Department of Justice and FBI. My objective is to reinstate the non-partisan operational integrity of the nation’s primary law enforcement agency – the FBI and the Department of Justice. This, to me, is the paramount goal,” stated Cornyn.
Hegseth Addresses Senate Concerns
Pete Hegseth was also active on Capitol Hill, engaging in further individual meetings with Republican senators. This follows four consecutive days last week dedicated to alleviating concerns surrounding reports of financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct, and instances of public intoxication.
Hegseth had a subsequent meeting with Senator Joni Ernst, a high-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who is herself a combat veteran and a survivor of sexual assault.
Notably, Senator Ernst did not immediately express support for Hegseth after their initial meeting the previous Wednesday. Over the weekend, Ernst emphasized the need for a thorough vetting process for Hegseth and expressed her interest in hearing his plans to address sexual assault within the military.
Following their latest discussion, Hegseth described their conversation as positive but refrained from commenting on whether he had successfully swayed Ernst to support his confirmation.
“Senator Ernst has long been committed to ensuring the Pentagon effectively serves warfighters. We have had extensive and productive discussions on this matter. I appreciate her dedication to this process and look forward to potential collaboration,” Hegseth commented.
When pressed again by reporters on whether he had secured Ernst’s backing, he declined to speak definitively, stating, “I would never presume to speak for her.”
Senator Ernst later issued a statement acknowledging Hegseth’s “responsiveness and respect for the process.” While not explicitly endorsing Hegseth’s confirmation, Ernst indicated her “support” for him throughout the ongoing process.
“Following our encouraging dialogues, Pete committed to conducting a comprehensive audit of the Pentagon and appointing a senior official who will champion the roles and value of our service members, based on merit and standards, not quotas, and who will prioritize and enhance my efforts to prevent sexual assault within our ranks,” she stated. “As I support Pete through this process, I anticipate a fair hearing grounded in facts, not anonymous allegations.”
Adding another layer to Hegseth’s confirmation process, Building America’s Future, a conservative non-profit organization associated with Elon Musk, is reportedly investing half a million dollars in a new advertisement campaign urging the Senate to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary. The ad is slated for national television and targeted digital platforms in Iowa, Senator Ernst’s home state.
Gabbard Faces Scrutiny Over Foreign Policy Views
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and military veteran without prior intelligence experience, also arrived on Capitol Hill for her initial round of meetings. Gabbard has faced criticism for her perceived sympathetic views towards U.S. adversaries like Russia and for her meeting with Syrian President Assad in 2017.
When questioned about concerns raised by former Democratic colleagues who consider her a national security risk, Gabbard redirected the focus to supporting President Trump’s stance on limiting U.S. involvement in the aftermath of the Assad regime in Syria.
Gabbard did not directly respond when asked if she regretted her 2017 meeting with Assad, following her meeting with Senator James Lankford. Her schedule also included meetings with Senators Mike Rounds and Lindsey Graham.
McMahon Discusses Education Policy
Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, was also on Capitol Hill, meeting with Republican Senator Roger Marshall and other members of Congress.
McMahon communicated to ABC News her intention to align with President Trump’s education policies if confirmed. However, she distanced herself from Trump’s suggestions of abolishing the Department of Education.
“President Trump and I have had numerous discussions, and I believe he is articulating his perspectives clearly,” McMahon stated, adding, “I will not preempt his policy announcements.”
ABC News correspondents Benjamin Siegel and Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.
