Is MAGA world in trouble?
As the new Senate Majority Leader, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) has made it clear that while he supports President-elect Donald Trump’s vision for his Cabinet, the confirmation process for his nominees will be thorough and fair. Speaking on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday, Thune emphasized that although the Senate intends to move swiftly, the upper chamber has a constitutional duty to “advise and consent” on presidential appointments.
Thune’s statement comes as Republicans prepare to take control of the 119th Congress, with Trump set to take office in January. While he expressed a desire to help the incoming president assemble the team he believes will best serve the nation, Thune made it clear that there would be no rubber-stamp approval. “What I’ve promised them is a fair process,” he said, explaining that each nominee will go through a rigorous committee review. “These nominees are going to have to answer some hard questions,” Thune added, underscoring the Senate’s role in ensuring each pick is fully vetted.
One of the areas where senators are expected to be particularly diligent is national security. Thune noted that many of his colleagues take their responsibility in this area seriously, especially when it comes to high-stakes positions like Secretary of Defense, CIA Director, and FBI Director. As a result, he assured that all nominees would be given a fair chance to present their qualifications to both the Senate and the American public.
Though Thune did not reveal his stance on any specific nominee—such as controversial figures like Kash Patel for FBI Director, or Pete Hegseth for Defense—he said he had met with several of Trump’s picks and was “really, really impressed” by some of them. The confirmation process, he concluded, would provide ample opportunity for senators to ask tough questions and ensure that each nominee meets the high standards required for public office.
With the new Congress set to begin, Thune emphasized that President Trump will be able to quickly install key figures in his administration, but only after undergoing the necessary scrutiny to ensure they’re the right fit for the job.