Hegseth is in trouble. That doesn鈥檛 mean RFK Jr., Gabbard, or Patel will face the same.
| Washington
Senate Republicans are聽pushing back firmly聽in vetting some of President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 most controversial nominees. But it remains to be seen whether this will continue through the confirmation process 鈥� or whether this will be the high-water mark of resistance from the GOP.
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Mr. Trump鈥檚 pick for secretary of defense, is facing strong headwinds to his nomination over questions about his character, notably reports of habitual heavy drinking and a (both of which he鈥檚 denied). Republican senators are openly expressing concerns about his alleged actions, and Mr. Trump is considering replacing Mr. Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The nominee鈥檚 struggles come after Matt Gaetz, Mr. Trump鈥檚 initial pick for attorney general, was forced to withdraw his nomination as numerous Republicans balked over allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct.
But while Mr. Trump has chosen a number of other deeply polarizing figures for other spots in his administration 鈥� like Kash Patel to lead the FBI, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services 鈥� they may face an easier path in the Senate. That is simply because, although their views and plans are far outside the historic norms for nominees to their jobs, at first blush they don鈥檛 seem to have the same level of personal baggage.
Why We Wrote This
Pete Hegseth is the second Trump Cabinet nominee meeting resistance from some Senate Republicans. But these are cases where personal conduct, beyond concerns about policies or experience, has become an issue.
North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer told the Monitor that the chances Mr. Hegseth will win confirmation are 鈥渢enuous,鈥� and expressed concerns about his reported . But he said he thought Mr. Trump would get more deference from Republican senators for his other polarizing nominees because their controversies were mostly 鈥減olicy, versus the personal stuff.鈥�
鈥淭he personal character things are not unimportant. I do think that they鈥檒l get [more deference], they being Kash and Tulsi and RFK,鈥� he said.
Some Democrats expect the same. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who like Mr. Hegseth is an Iraq War veteran, said she 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 go that far鈥� when asked if his imperiled nomination showed that her GOP colleagues were taking seriously their advice-and-consent role 鈥� and might show the same diligence for other controversial nominees.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 such a terrible candidate with very, very clear issues that it鈥檚 hard for anybody to stand up and say that this man is actually qualified. I don鈥檛 think he鈥檇 even pass a background check,鈥� she said.
While Republicans immediately pushed back on Mr. Gaetz鈥檚 nomination, and many took a wait-and-see approach on Mr. Hegseth, they鈥檝e been more vocal about defending other Trump nominees.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday that Mr. Patel 鈥渨ill be鈥� confirmed. 鈥淧eople I know and who I trust speak well of him and I鈥檓 looking forward to meeting with him,鈥� Mr. Cornyn conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
It鈥檚 notable that Mr. Trump is having more trouble getting his nominees confirmed this time than he did after he first won office, even though he faces a more favorable Senate.
Back in 2017, his Cabinet nominees faced a tougher crowd. Republicans had one fewer Senate seat, and there were a lot more Republican senators who were willing to outwardly criticize the president than there are now. But back then, he largely picked candidates who were palatable to Senate Republicans. This time, he鈥檚 gone fully with picks that reflect the anti-establishment ethos of his Make America Great Again movement, putting up nominees that leave even some of his regular Senate allies uncomfortable.
Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Patel, and Ms. Gabbard will all face their own hurdles. But many Senate Republicans don鈥檛 seem nearly as disquieted with them as they do with Mr. Hegseth.
Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, an Army veteran and survivor of sexual assault and a key vote on Mr. Hegseth鈥檚 nomination, said after meeting with him that she still wasn鈥檛 convinced she could support his nomination. 鈥淲e have to have a very thorough vetting process,鈥� she said in a Thursday Fox News interview.
Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is scheduled to meet with Mr. Hegseth next Monday, told the Monitor 鈥淚 certainly have a lot of questions鈥� about him that 鈥渟tem from what I have read that you [journalists] have dutifully reported.鈥�
Mr. Hegseth remains defiant. 鈥淎s long as Donald Trump wants me here in this fight, I鈥檓 going to be standing here in this fight,鈥� he told reporters Thursday afternoon.
But even Republican senators who back Mr. Hegseth have openly wondered whether he鈥檒l stick through the process.
鈥淚鈥檓 all-in for Pete. I think Pete will be great at this. It鈥檚 just 鈥� how long is he willing to go through this? You know, that鈥檚 tough. It鈥檚 a tough process,鈥� said Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
Mr. Mullin said he didn鈥檛 expect an 鈥渆asy process鈥� for Mr. Trump鈥檚 other nominees. But he indicated they won鈥檛 face the same level of hesitation as Mr. Hegseth and Mr. Gaetz from the Republicans who will determine whether or not Mr. Trump鈥檚 nominees survive confirmation.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 the most challenging nomination that the president鈥檚 put forth since Matt鈥檚 gone,鈥� he said.
