Brady Knox writes for the Washington Examiner about Republican U.S. senators who are most likely to object to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.
President-elect Donald Trump is facing a tough battle getting his Cabinet picks approved, with the primary obstacle being four Republican senators.
With his election victory on Nov. 5, Trump has largely solidified his hold over the Republican Party. However, some Republicans in the Senate have remained stubborn, signaling they may not support Trump’s Cabinet picks, particularly former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary. …
… Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), residing in a swing state known for its preference for Democrats in non-presidential races, faces a tough reelection in 2026. Conscious of this, he is sure to be hesitant in rubber stamping Trump’s more controversial Cabinet picks.
“I will consider Matt Gaetz like I will anyone else, but if they don’t do the homework, don’t be surprised if they fail. Maybe they’ve already done that work,” he told reporters after Gaetz’s nomination. “Nothing surprises me in politics, nothing. And I’m okay with this. But at the end of the day we have a process, and we’ll just have to run through it.”
Tillis said that he would keep an open mind and that his main priority in deciding is “a defensible résumé, and a really clean vetting. Produce that he’s got a chance, don’t, and he doesn’t.” …
… Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a centrist Republican, is known for not being on the same wavelength as Trump. She has signaled that she will not be voting to approve Gaetz, not seeing him as a serious candidate. …
… Though stepping down as Senate Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) isn’t retiring from his long-held seat. While he has publicly supported Trump during the 2024 race, a recent book revealed the personal animus he privately expressed toward him, especially after the Jan. 6 riot.
