Vice President JD Vance had a clear message for Republican senators thinking about opposing Trump’s nominees: "You don't get to make these decisions."
Vance spoke with Sean Hannity on Fox News from Washington, D.C., just before the Senate confirmation hearings. The focus? FBI director nominee Kash Patel and DNI director nominee Tulsi Gabbard.
Along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for HHS, Patel and Gabbard are among the most controversial choices. Their confirmations won’t be easy.
Vance believes they’ll get through but says Republicans must "fight for each one."
VP Vance on Hannity: pic.twitter.com/5y2XJqLhNf
— Geordee (@Geordiday) January 30, 2025
He acknowledged Senate Republicans value independence. But he insisted that the president has the final say in his Cabinet choices.
"...The president has made his selections," Vance told Hannity. "The advice and consent power of the United States Senate should not be used to block people because you have one policy disagreement on one issue. You don't get to make these decisions. President Trump gets to make these decisions, and he already has."
He urged Republicans to consider Trump’s 2024 coalition. He questioned if they could have won in November without support from figures like Gabbard and RFK Jr.
"Donald Trump won an imposing mandate," Vance said. "He got a different group of people to vote Republican than had ever voted Republican. We have to give those parts of the coalition some wins, too." He emphasized a mix of traditional Republicans and fresh voices in the administration.
As of Thursday, eight Cabinet members have been confirmed. They include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Others are Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.