Hawley Urges GOP to Hear Trump’s Cabinet Nominees

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is standing firm in support of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections, urging his Republican colleagues to allow each nominee to testify before making any judgments. Speaking on Fox News this week, Hawley emphasized the importance of giving Trump’s appointees the chance to make their case during Senate confirmation hearings, regardless of controversy.

“I would just say to my Senate colleagues, listen, let these guys testify,” Hawley told host Jesse Watters. “Give them a shot. That’s what a hearing is for.”

Hawley’s comments come as Trump faces resistance from some within the GOP over his bold choices, including Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Trump has floated the possibility of using recess appointments to bypass the traditional confirmation process, but Hawley believes hearings are the proper forum to address concerns.

Key Points from Hawley’s Message

• Fair Process: Hawley called for every nominee to have a confirmation hearing “as quickly as possible” and urged his colleagues to withhold judgment until after hearing from the nominees directly.

• Momentum for Trump’s Picks: He noted the positive outcome of a recent meeting between Senate Republicans, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and Gaetz, saying, “It’s full steam ahead.”

• Cabinet Reflecting Trump’s Agenda: Hawley argued that Trump should be able to build a Cabinet aligned with his vision, calling out the establishment for opposing the breadth of Trump’s coalition.

One of the most polarizing nominees is Gaetz, whose appointment has drawn fire from both Democrats and some Republicans due to his outspoken nature and past controversies, including an ethics investigation. Hawley likened the media frenzy surrounding Gaetz to the smear campaign against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his nomination process.

“The answer to that is let the guy speak,” Hawley insisted. “He deserves to be able to address this himself. He deserves to lay out his vision and the president’s vision for the DOJ.”

Despite internal GOP concerns, Hawley remains optimistic, dismissing attacks from the press and urging his colleagues to give the nominees the fair consideration they deserve.

“This is about letting the president-elect put together a team that reflects the agenda he was elected to carry out,” Hawley said.

As Trump prepares to take office, the fate of his Cabinet nominees will be a critical test of Republican unity in the Senate and a signal of how much opposition the incoming administration can expect from within its own ranks.

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