Vice President JD Vance admitted on Sunday that confirmations for some of President Donald Trump’s more controversial Cabinet nominees could require a tie-breaking vote to pass through the Senate, urging support from GOP Congress members.
Newsweek reached out to the White House on Sunday afternoon by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Following the incredibly close vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, all eyes have turned to three nominees for Cabinet positions who have proven even more contentious: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence (DNI), and Kash Patel for director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Hegseth’s confirmation saw three Republicans, including Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, vote against him, requiring Vance, the president of the U.S. Senate, to cast a tie-breaking vote. Republicans have already brought forth concerns about the other three nominees, ranging from Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism to Gabbard’s past comments on Ukraine and Syria, and to Patel’s comments on the “Deep State” and the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Several Republicans have gone public with their concerns on some aspects of these nominees, raising questions about how close the vote might be—and whether they might pass at all.
What To Know
Vance addressed the pushback against Kennedy Jr., Gabbard and Patel during an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, noting that Democrats have managed to “obstruct” parts of the process but overall failed to stop any confirmation—including Hegseth.
“Obviously, we’re going to provide those votes if we need them,” Vance said. “We’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that my tie-breaking vote isn’t necessary.”
The former Ohio senator then went on to make a plea to his fellow Republicans who might still have doubts about those nominees, “You don’t have to agree with everything” the candidates have said, instead asking them to focus on “the qualifications and the character to do this job.”
He added: “The person who decides whether they should be nominated in the first place. He was the guy elected by the American people: That’s President Trump and he deserves some deference in surrounding himself with the people he thinks he needs to do the job.”
Vance admitted that for “some of” the nominees, the “margins are a little bit better,” but he remained “confident that we’re going to be able to get the president’s Cabinet confirmed very quickly.”
“I think we have some better allies in the Senate than maybe the president had eight years ago,” the vice president said. “So yeah, it’s not always perfect, but I think the president’s confirmation hearings are going much better than they were eight years ago.”
What People Are Saying
The Lincoln Project, a Republican anti-Trump group, published a video on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: “A message to the US Senate: America is watching. Patel, Gabbard, and RFK are more than just unfit. They are a danger to our country, and to our people’s safety. Use your vote to protect the people you represent. History will remember your choice.”
Roger Stone, a political consultant who once worked for Trump, wrote on X: “I told President Trump last night that Tulsi Gabbard will be America’s first woman president and indeed she will.”
Senator Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, wrote on X: “Four times Tulsi Gabbard was asked if Edward Snowden is a traitor for releasing U.S. secrets & four times she declined to answer Democrats or Republicans. Anyone who refuses to label a traitor to the U.S. as a traitor is completely unqualified to lead our intelligence community.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party, last week wrote on X: “I like the slogan ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ I agree with that effort. But when I asked Robert F. Kennedy if health care is a human right, he couldn’t give me an answer.”
Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, last week wrote on X: “Today, at [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]’s HELP hearing, I made it clear that we need medical freedom. There’s such a belief in submission. ‘Submit to the government. Do what you’re told.’ There is no discussion. There ought to be a debate. RFK Jr. has my vote. MAHA!”
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, last week wrote on X: “Every FBI Director I’ve questioned has lied to me. [Kash Patel] told the truth.”
What Happens Next
All three of the nominees—Gabbard, Kennedy Jr. and Patel—face votes this week, with expectations remaining that the votes will be close should they reach the floor. However, some votes, such as Gabbard’s, will have a closed committee vote first, which may prevent her going to the Senate floor for the confirmation vote.
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