The confirmation for President Donald Trump's top choice for the next head of the Department of Homeland Security is off to a rocky start, thanks to one Republican senator.
Trump tapped Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. While most of Mullin's Senate colleagues have praised Trump's choice, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was not keen on the nominee.
'Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.'
Paul opened the confirmation hearing Wednesday by challenging Mullin to disavow political violence. Paul was specifically asking Mullin to address alleged past comments in which he said he "completely" understood why Paul's neighbor attacked him in 2017, leaving him with severe injuries including broken ribs.
"You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified," Paul said of Mullin's comments. Paul also claimed Mullin referred to him as a "freaking snake."
RELATED: Noem is OUT — and Trump has named her replacement
Mullin addressed Paul's claims, insisting that he and Paul had a conversation about their differences when Mullin was still a member of the House. Mullin also looked directly at Paul and said, "I'm very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face."
Mullin then added, "Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us."
Paul later said he would note vote for Mullin's confirmation, saying Mullin's "temperament was not suitable" and that his "anger issues are a problem."
"They’ve had to have known for weeks that I couldn't be real happy about a guy that won't apologize and thinks that my assault was perfectly understandable," Paul said.
A "no" vote from Paul could cost Mullin the confirmation. Mullin first needs to be approved by a simple majority of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Paul chairs. If senators vote on party lines, just one Republican defection could throw the whole nomination.
RELATED: Trump's unusual Cabinet meeting may reveal which officials are on thin ice
If Mullin's nomination advances through committee, he will need a simple majority in the Republican-controlled Senate.
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Senate Democrats are preparing to grill Mike Waltz during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to question Mike Waltz, a former Trump adviser and prospective U.N. ambassador.
'Mike’s used to taking incoming fire.'
Waltz, who was ousted from the National Security adviser role in May following what has been called "Signalgate," is set to face the public for the first time concerning his involvement in the scandal. Signalgate allegedly involved a private message chain with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Mike Waltz, and others discussing war plans.
Mike Waltz took the fall when it was revealed that Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, was added to the chain.
"This will be a chance for senators to question the former national security adviser and nominee to be U.N. ambassador, which has historically been a significant foreign policy post," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who sits on the committee, told USA TODAY in anticipation of today's hearing.
The U.S. ambassador seat for the United Nations has been largely vacant during the second Trump administration. Filling the seat was further frustrated when Trump withdrew his nomination for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) at the end of March.
“He’ll be fine. Mike won’t have any issues,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla) told the Independent. “I mean, the Democrats are gonna do their thing. Whatever. Mike’s used to taking incoming fire.”
Waltz, a former Republican congressman from Florida, needs a majority vote to be confirmed in the 53-47 Republican-controlled Senate.
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Despite the incessant smear campaigns spearheaded by Democrats, the Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel on Thursday to serve as director of the FBI. Patel is now the 18th member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed.
Patel was confirmed in a 51-49 vote with 51 Republicans supporting the nominee and 47 Democrats voting against him. Notably, retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell voted in favor of Patel's confirmation.
At the same time, Patel also faced pushback from some Republican senators, with Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting to tank the nominee.
'Mr. Patel should be our next FBI director because the FBI has been infected by political bias and weaponized against the American people. Mr. Patel knows it, Mr. Patel exposed it, and Mr. Patel has been targeted for it.'
Murkowski, Collins, and McConnell have previously voted against Trump's nominees like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. McConnell also voted against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, surprising onlookers with his support for Patel.
"I’ve never seen our law enforcement and intelligence community institutions so badly infected with political decision-making," Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said in his opening statement during Patel's hearing. "They’ve broken faith with 'we the people.'"
Patel previously advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 party-line vote, paving the path to his confirmation a week later.
"Mr. Patel should be our next FBI director because the FBI has been infected by political bias and weaponized against the American people," Grassley said during the committee vote. "Mr. Patel knows it, Mr. Patel exposed it, and Mr. Patel has been targeted for it."
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Former Republican Rep. Lori Chaves-DeRemer of Oregon, who was nominated to head the Department of Labor, was pressed over her pro-union past during her confirmation hearing Wednesday.
During her time in the House, Chavez-DeRemer earned a reputation for being a pro-union Republican, primarily through her support of the PRO Act. In doing so, Chavez-DeRemer received pushback from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who initially came out against her nomination.
'This is the question, whether this is sort of a death-bed reversal, or whether or not she is truly for this.'
"Her support for the PRO Act, which would not only oppose national right-to-work, but it would pre-empt state law on right-to-work," Paul previously told reporters. "I think it's not a good thing, and it'd be sort of hard for me since it's a big issue for me to support her. So I won't support her."
The PRO Act is designed to expand workers' rights to unionize, coming in conflict with right-to-work laws that have historically been backed by Republicans.
During the hearing, Paul questioned Chavez-DeRemer about her past support for the PRO Act, to which she changed her position.
"The PRO Act wasn't just about organizing or enabling unions to organize, which they already have the right to do. The PRO Act was about overturning right-to-work laws in 26 states," Paul said.
"You no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?" Paul asked.
"Yes, sir," Chavez-DeRemer replied, reversing her previously held position.
Because the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions has 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats, Chavez-DeRemer will have to rely on Democrats to advance through the committee, assuming that Paul remains a no vote. Although several Democrats have signaled they are open to supporting Chavez-DeRemer, she may not need to reach across the aisle after all.
When asked if Chavez-DeRemer's answers changed his vote, Paul said he was going to continue weighing her responses.
"This is the question, whether this is sort of a death-bed reversal, or whether or not she is truly for this," Paul told reporters after the hearing.
"I'm going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion in this last moment is sincere," Paul added.
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The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday. Kennedy is the 15th member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed.
The Senate confirmed Kennedy in a 52-48 vote, with former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voting against the nominee. McConnell has now opposed three of Trump's nominees, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Much to Democrats' dismay, the nominees once thought to be long shots have, one by one, been confirmed to serve in Trump's Cabinet.
"President Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the charge in making America healthy again," Republican Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) said in a floor speech Tuesday. "He promises to make HHS a collaborative, transparent, and science-driven agency under his leadership."
"Our public health agencies do critical work, and I'm a supporter of their research, and I'm proud of the contributions they make to American leadership and medicine and innovation," Thune continued. "But if we're going to Make America Healthy Again, the agencies doing this important work have to rebuild some trust with Americans."
In the days leading up to his confirmation, several key Republicans rallied behind Kennedy.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska endorsed Kennedy just moments after the Senate advanced his nomination on Wednesday. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine also came out in support of the nominee on Tuesday. Notably, both Collins and Murkowski voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and have a history of deviating from party-line votes.
Although Murkowski and Collins have previously bucked their own party, both senators fell in line and backed Kennedy.
Kennedy is the latest of Trump's more contentious nominees to secure his confirmation. The Senate notably confirmed Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence on Wednesday and advanced Kash Patel's nomination to head the FBI on Thursday morning.
Much to Democrats' dismay, the nominees once thought to be long shots have, one by one, been confirmed to serve in Trump's Cabinet.
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Patel enters with eyes open to the bad actors that cost this nation millions in bogus political investigations.
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