Donald Trump’s outsider Cabinet picks rapidly gain support for confirmation

All the president-elect’s men, and women, are falling into place in his Cabinet.

While Defence Secretary pick Pete Hegseth’s nomination was teetering towards collapse weeks ago, he now appears on track for confirmation after a fiery Senate hearing that focused on his drinking, views of women in combat and lack of high-profile management experience for the top US military job.

Donald Trump’s other nominees pushed through a gauntlet of confirmation hearings with the help of allied Senate Republicans carrying them towards the finish line, despite Democratic objections. One of them, potential FBI director Kash Patel, popped into a private Senate GOP lunch to say hello.

“These nominees are bold choices,” said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the GOP whip, in earlier remarks.

He predicted the Senate will begin start voting on Inauguration Day itself to confirm Mr Trump’s picks.

Mr Trump’s more controversial choices of Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr, have yet to come before senators for public questioning, where they face a long haul ahead in winning over sceptics from both sides of the political aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike.

In a letter to Republican senators Wednesday, an organization headed by former Vice President Mike Pence, said it was “deeply concerned” over Kennedy over his views on abortion, and urged senators to reject him for secretary of Health and Human Services.

But Hegseth’s ability to mount a political comeback turned his nomination into a litmus test of Mr Trump’s ability to get what he wants. Allies including billionaire Elon Musk and others amplified support for Hegseth, pushing him forward.

“If anyone in the Senate GOP votes against confirming Pete Hegseth after his stellar performance today, there will be a primary challenge waiting for you,” wrote Trump ally Charlie Kirk on X. “You can take that to the bank.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote on Hegseth’s nomination on Monday, sending it to the full Senate for consideration, with confirmation possible later that week.

With a nod of support from GOP senator Joni Ernst of Iowa who initially had questions for Hegseth, the former Army National Guard veteran powered past his biggest potential roadblock. Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, faced an onslaught of personal and political attacks as she wavered on supporting Hegseth, an early signal to others.

Republican senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said criticism of Hegseth was not as powerful as the image of “a warrior with dust on his boots who’s actually done the things”.

On Wednesday, six more Trump nominees appeared before Senate committees as his team floods the zone, senators dashing between rooms to participate in as many sessions as possible.

Attorney-General nominee Pam Bondi, pictured above, was grilled by Democrats probing whether she believed Mr Trump lost the 2020 election or would stand up to presidential pardons for those convicted of crimes in relation to the January 6 Capitol attack.

“You say the right things,’” said Democrat senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “But I believe being the ‘people’s lawyer’ means you have to be able to say no to the President of the United States,” he said. “You have to be able to say Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, you dodged that question... You have to be able to say Jan. 6 insurrectionists who committed violence shouldn’t be pardoned.”

Bondi responded: “I don’t have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly.”

Russ Vought, tapped to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget, was asked if he would commit to releasing congressional approved funding for Ukraine. He vowed to “always commit to upholding the law”.

California Democratic senator Alex Padilla asked Trump’s Energy nominee Chris Wright if he still believes “wildfires are just hype,” as multiple blazes continue to devastate Los Angeles. Wright said he stood by his comments and said climate change is real before Padilla cut him off.

On Monday, Mr Trump is expected come inside the Capitol after he is inaugurated to sign the paperwork to formally nominate his picks. Majority Leader John Thune has said the Senate will vote on nominees as soon as they are ready.

First up could be Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a former Trump rival for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, who is now the choice for Secretary of State.

Rubio promised an “America First” foreign policy agenda during his own hearing . As a well-known senator, he is expected to have broad support from Republicans, as well as Democrats.

Other nominees, including Hegseth, are expected to face a tougher path to confirmation.

Republicans narrowly hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate but they are down to 52 after Vice President-elect J.D. Vance resigned his seat last week ahead of taking office. That means Mr Trump’s nominees need support from almost every GOP senator for majority confirmation over objections from Democrats.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer all but acknowledged Democrats, as the minority, are essentially powerless to prevent Trump from getting his desired team.

“It’s important to have a record of these nominees,” he said. “Even if they get confirmed in the end.”