For the second day in a row, the US Senate weighed President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions. cupboardasking candidates about their background and qualifications.
Wednesday was a busy day for the Senate, as it held hearings for six of Trump’s nominees, including heavyweights like the senator. Marco Rubio – his pick for secretary of state – and Pam Bondi, candidate for attorney general.
The hearings come as Republican congressional leaders hope to give Trump a strong start to his second term, which begins Monday.
Top cabinet positions must be approved by the Senate, and Republicans hold 53 seats to Democrats’ 45.
However, controversial candidates will need all the votes they can get to succeed in their nomination. Wednesday’s hearings, for example, were preceded by heated debates the day before, as senators pressured Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, over allegations of excessive drug consumption. alcohol and sexual assault.
Here are some key points from Wednesday’s testimony before the Senate.
Rubio displays a hawkish streak
During his testimony, Rubioa U.S. senator from Florida, has pledged to put U.S. interests “above everything and everything else” if named secretary of state.
Rubio also showed his foreign policy hawk colors, denouncing China as the “greatest threat” facing the United States in the 21st century.
“If we don’t change course, we will live in a world where much of what matters to us every day – from our safety to our health – will depend on whether the Chinese allow us to do so or not. ” Rubio said.
He added that China had “suppressed, lied, cheated, hacked and stolen goods.” [its] path to global superpower status.
Wednesday’s remarks were consistent with Rubio’s habit of taking an adversarial approach toward his perceived U.S. rivals.
He nonetheless praised U.S. alliances like NATO, offering a counterpoint to the more aggressive posture of Trump himself.
“The NATO alliance is a very important alliance. I believe it,” he said.
“Without the NATO alliance, the Cold War will not end. In fact, without the NATO alliance, it is entirely possible that much of what we now call Europe would have been subject to aggression.”
But he echoed Trump’s position that other NATO allies “need to contribute more to their own defense” and rely less on U.S. support.
Ratcliffe promises no political bias
At a separate hearing, John Ratcliffechosen by Trump to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), assured lawmakers that he would not persecute members of the intelligence community for insufficient loyalty to Trump.
“We will produce thorough, objective, all-source analysis, never allowing political or personal bias to cloud our judgment or infect our products,” Ratcliffe said of his goals as CIA director.
A former federal prosecutor, Ratcliffe previously served as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021.
Like Rubio, Ratcliffe is expected to go through the confirmation process. But senators expressed concern that Trump’s picks for high-ranking law enforcement posts could seek to use their powers for political purposes.
Ratcliffe previously pledged to “root out corrupt actors from our national security and intelligence apparatus.”
On Wednesday, he was directly asked whether this process would eliminate employees based on their political preferences.
“Will you or one of your staff impose a political litmus test on CIA employees? » asked Senator Angus King.
“No,” replied Ratcliffe. He insisted that firing staff because of their views was “something I would never do”.
Bondi avoids Smith inquiry questions
Trump’s pick for attorney general is expected to be among the most controversial, given the president-elect’s long history of statements insisting he will pursue political rivals during his second term.
This put Bondi under the microscope during his Senate hearing on Wednesday.
She attempted to allay these concerns with some of her statements, insisting that “politics must be removed from this system.”
“No one should be prosecuted for political purposes,” she added. As head of the Justice Department, she would be the federal government’s top prosecutor.
But when asked if she would open investigations into specific figures like the former special adviser Jack SmithBondi refused to provide clear answers.
“It would be irresponsible for me to make a commitment on anything,” she said of Smith, who led two criminal indictments against Trump.
Bondi has previously echoed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen by massive fraud and voting irregularities.
On Wednesday, she said she would evaluate possible pardons for those who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, “on a case-by-case basis.”
Duffy will hold Boeing accountable
In relatively quiet testimony, Sean Duffy, Trump’s pick for Transportation secretary, said he would seek a way to make electric vehicles (EVs) pay for road maintenance largely funded by gasoline taxes .
He also claimed that Boeingone of America’s leading aircraft manufacturers, needed some “tough love” to meet proper safety standards.
“I think we need to make sure they implement their safety plan,” Duffy said, adding that the aerospace company needs to “restore global trust” in its brand.
The comments come as Boeing faces continued scrutiny following flight safety incidents in 2024, as well as fraud costs.
“We must push [Federal Aviation Administration] to make sure they implement their security plan,” said Duffy, a former lobbyist, television personality and member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
