At least one Republican senator has gone public with concerns that some of President Donald Trump’s supposedly “controversial” Cabinet nominees are in danger of not being confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate, drawing ire from some, including Vice President JD Vance.
In an interview Thursday evening with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he was particularly worried that Director of National Intelligence nominee and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard wouldn’t be confirmed because of “what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues.”
“What are your colleagues on the Republican side thinking here?” Watters asked, leading Hawley to say that he hoped GOP senators actually listened to Gabbard’s responses.
“Here’s her real ‘sin,’ Jesse, in the eyes of so many of the Washington establishment of both parties,” the senator said. “Her ‘sin’ is that she challenges the surveillance state. She told the truth about the government spying on Americans and about the abuses of FISA. She went out there and was honest about it and for that, she is getting absolutely roasted and persecuted.”
“Do your Republican colleagues understand what will happen if they vote down Tulsi?” Watters asked, suggesting that Republicans who oppose her will draw the ire of President Donald Trump.
“I don’t know,” Hawley said. “And I have to tell you, I’m worried by what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues. I’m worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy. And I’m just worried about what that will mean. It will mean that the reforms that we desperately need in the intelligence space — let’s not pretend everything is fine and dandy and hunky-dory in the intelligence community. It’s not.”
“Besides the fact that they have missed major, major issues,” Hawley continued. “And beside the fact they misled us on COVID for so long. We need reforms to stop the abuses of things like FISA Sect. 702, stop spying on Americans.”
He added: “I hope Tulsi gets confirmed because we need that kind of reform.”
WATCH:
Sen. Josh Hawley: I'm worried Tulsi Gabbard won't be confirmed because of "what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues.”
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) January 31, 2025
