Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) spoke with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Thursday about President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks; “all options” are on the table to get Trump’s pick confirmed, Thune told Baier.
Some of Trump’s picks so far include Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr., Matt Gaetz, and Tulsi Gabbard.
“All these people have a process that they have to go through. All these nominees are – it’s a – you know, advice and consent. That’s the Senate’s constitutional role when it comes to confirmation of nominations to the executive branch of the government. And we take that role seriously,” he said. “But we also are not going to allow the Democrats to obstruct or block President Trump and the will of the American people.”
Thune also addressed reports of “recess appointments” — a process that allows a president to fill vacancies while the Senate is out or in recess.
“Well, it’s an option, but obviously, it takes, you know, you have to have all Republicans vote to recess as well. So the same Republicans that you mentioned that might have a problem voting for somebody under regular order probably also have a problem voting to put the Senate into recess,” the Southa Dakota native noted. “You have to have concurrence from the House. There’s a process. All this is a process. But I don’t think any of those things are necessarily off the table.”
“I think we have to have all the options on the table. And these nominees deserve their day in court. They deserve a hearing, a confirmation hearing, an opportunity to be vetted. And the Senate will perform its constitutional role under advice and consent. But we are not going to allow the Democrats to thwart the will of the American people in giving President Trump the people that he wants in those positions to implement his agenda,” Thune continued.
“The people in this country want change. He [Trump] wants to bring that about. And I always believe that you defer to a president when it comes to the people they want in their cabinet,” Thune said.
Watch the clip below:
