By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In early 2025, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate will vote on whether to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. With just a few weeks until the confirmation process really heats up, the nominees are trying to shore up as much support as possible.
It’s another busy week of meetings for Trump cabinet nominees including RFK Jr., Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard who are all in Washington meeting with Republican Senators, and even some Democrats.
Some nominees, including Gabbard, are also meeting with Democratic senators this week, one being Senator John Fetterman (D- PA).
“I’m not going to speak for Senator Fetterman or any Senator,” said Gabbard when asked by a reporter if Fetterman seemed open to supporting her.
“I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees. That’s why I met with Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, just wrapped with Tulsi Gabbard, and look forward to my meetings with others soon,” said Sen. Fetterman Tuesday in a social media post on X. “My votes will come from an open-mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them. That’s not controversial, it’s my job.”
It’s also the first week of face-to-face meetings for RFK Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. continues to face scrutiny over his stance on vaccines.
“I think he’s going to be much less radical than you would think. I think he’s got a very open mind or I wouldn’t have put him there,” said President-elect Trump during a recent press conference. “But there are problems. I mean, we don’t do as well as a lot of other nations.”
RFK Jr.’s vaccine skepticism is concerning to some Democrats, like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY), however, she does agree with his stance on abortion and environmental protections.
“I have some concerns. His positions on vaccines trouble me as a mother, trouble me as a lawmaker. He’s had some past positive statements about clean air, clean water and food safety that I appreciate. He’s pro-choice which I appreciate,” said Sen. Gillibrand.
However, Republican senators are confident RFK Jr. will reflect the policies of the President-elect.
“My assumption is he wouldn’t take the job unless he were in agreement with President Trump’s policies and ready to implement them,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R- MO). “Whatever his own views are, I assume that he will support the President’s policies.”
In a new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, voters 53 – 42 percent, say they are generally optimistic about the next four years with Donald Trump as President.
A different poll from the Associated Press/NORC shows more than half of U.S. adults are slightly, or not at all confident in Trump’s ability to appoint well-qualified people to his cabinet, with 27% saying they’re extremely, or very confident.
