New Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune of South Dakota told CBS he’s not sure if every GOP Senator will vote yes on confirming every nominee put forth by President-elect Donald Trump — particularly picks like Kash Patel or Pete Hegseth. “They still have to make their case,” he said.
Thune joined host Margaret Brennan for an interview that aired on the newest Face the Nation on CBS to talk about the new administration and Republican majority, Sunday, including the upcoming confirmation hearings on Trump’s cabinet appointments.
One nominee has already withdrawn his name and moved on to getting make-up tips from fellow former Republican George Santos at right wing network OAN.
Among the remaining names, two in particular continue to face massive pushback from the left and the media, and face uncertain futures within their own party, as Thune somewhat confirmed to Brennan during their talk.
Brennan brought up the new 53-seat majority, pointing out that it means on some issues the GOP can only afford three defectors from the party line, and segued to ask whether that might mean some Trump picks don’t “make it through.”
“I suspect a lot of them will get through,” Thune said. “And – and we’ll see about all of them. Remains to be seen.”
Brennan replied that Thune has said before they’ll have to “see if Democrats play ball or not,” and asked him if that means he already knows “some of your Republican senators won’t vote to confirm Kash Patel at the FBI or Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon?”
“We don’t have, at this point, I don’t think, clarity on that,” Thune replied uncertainly. “I think these are nominees who are new enough, they’ve been going around and conducting their meetings, which I think, frankly, have gone very well. But they still have to make their case in front of – of the committee.”
In an interview with CBS, Senator John Thune addressed questions about the confirmation process for President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, emphasizing the importance of fairness and adherence to procedure. Speaking with Margaret Brennan, Thune acknowledged the challenges of securing votes for some of Trump’s picks, particularly with the Republicans’ slim three-vote majority in the Senate.
When asked about the likelihood of Trump’s nominees being confirmed, Thune stated, “What I promised is a fair process for all of them. Any president’s picks deserve a lot of latitude.” He added that nominees who pass through committee reviews would receive a vote on the Senate floor. However, he admitted that it remains to be seen if all nominees will be confirmed, emphasizing that the process exists to ensure nominees make their case effectively.
Brennan pressed Thune on whether Republican senators might oppose high-profile nominees like Kash Patel for the FBI and Pete Hegseth for the Pentagon. Thune admitted there wasn’t complete clarity yet, as the nominees were still conducting meetings and presenting their qualifications to committees. “Most of our Republican senators are inclined to give the president the people he wants,” Thune noted, but he acknowledged that some concerns could arise during the review process.
Brennan specifically asked if FBI background checks would be required for nominees like Hegseth. Thune deferred the decision to committee chairs but agreed that having as much background information as possible is important. “I think there will be an interest, obviously,” he said, adding that he would encourage background checks to ensure transparency.
Following the interview, CBS reported that Thune had allegedly informed Trump that Hegseth had enough votes for confirmation. This statement raised questions about whether Thune’s public comments about uncertainty contradicted his private assurances to Trump. However, the report suggested this might reflect the difference between Senate committees still deliberating and party leaders privately tallying expected votes.
Thune’s comments highlight the balancing act required to navigate the confirmation process with a slim majority in the Senate. While he expressed confidence in most nominees’ chances, he underscored the need for a thorough review to ensure fairness and transparency, particularly for nominees facing significant scrutiny. The process, he said, would ultimately determine whether Trump’s picks could secure the necessary support.
