Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump seems to be playing the waiting game as Republican senators take their sweet time warming up to his Cabinet nominees. It’s a scene reminiscent of a reluctant demigod encouraging mere mortals to recognize his obviously divine choices. The latest in the Cabinet soap opera is none other than Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa, who has now opened the door for Hegseth’s confirmation, could be the first domino to fall as the rest of her fellow Republicans start to shake off their hesitance and back their party leader.
A word to the wise for timid Republican senators: Trump’s allies aren’t playing around. There’s chatter that some could face primary challenges if they don’t get on board the Trump train. While the President-elect remains silent, allowing his loyalists and nominees to fend for themselves in the Senate boxing ring, it’s clear that this is a fight worth having. After all, just because there’s a Republican majority in January doesn’t mean every senator has got the guts to stand behind the nominees who align with Trump’s vision for America.
Trump admits he's not vetting his nominees at all before he announces them
(the "pastors" thing he refers to here about Chad Chronister was publicly known for a long time — Trump could've learned about it with a simple Google search) pic.twitter.com/olRdujAGwI
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 4, 2024
There were murmurs early on about Trump sidestepping the Senate, but it seems he’s taking a different approach—at least for now. Two of his more contentious picks have been sent on charm missions to woo senators before any confirmation hearings. Hegseth appears to be doing well in these meet-and-greets and has garnered support across various media platforms. In stark contrast, former Congressman Matt Gaetz has pulled the plug on his pursuit of the attorney general position after apparent lack of support.
The irony is thick: Trump is the king of unpredictability, yet he knows how to let others do his heavy lifting. Furthermore, while predictions of Trump changing his tactics are common, they rarely bear fruit. The real test of his resolve could come down the line with his cabinet choices, who might set some interesting precedents. His willingness to consider past Democrats like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard suggests that while the Left might not be thrilled with these picks, he remains committed to building a broad coalition.
A crumb of wisdom comes from Senator Tom Cotton, who pointed out the historical pattern of the last three decades regarding Cabinet confirmations. It’s highly unusual for a Republican Senate to stray from confirming a Republican president’s selections. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. gets in on the action as well, calling out any GOP senator with an inconsistency that goes against the party’s unity. This, after all, serves as a reminder that there should be no contradiction when supporting a president who won decisively in states like Iowa—where the Trump brand remains as potent as ever.
Even Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird weighed in, highlighting the disconnect between Washington elites and everyday Americans who voted overwhelmingly for Trump. She reminded her constituents that their voices deserve to be heard, especially when they stood firmly behind Trump’s vision in the polls. Meanwhile, political strategist Charlie Kirk has echoed calls for accountability, hinting that if some Republican senators aren’t careful, challengers could be waiting in the wings, eager to take their seat.
As the plot thickens surrounding Trump’s Cabinet nominees, it’s clear that the establishment can’t afford to ignore the wishes of their constituents any longer. Whether they choose to rally behind Hegseth or face the consequences remains to be seen, but with Trump in their corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. It would seem that any hesitation could confirm the Democrats’ dreams—something no true Republican would want to endure.
