Trump Cabinet Nominees Gabbard and Kennedy Face GOP Resistance in Senate

Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Democrats nominated for key positions, encounter skepticism from Republican senators over past statements and policy stances.

Tulsi Gabbard, nominated for Director of National Intelligence, faces questions about her past criticism of surveillance programs and her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, is under scrutiny for his anti-vaccine rhetoric and support for abortion rights, which conflict with GOP priorities.
Key Republican senators, including Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell, have expressed doubts about both nominees, potentially jeopardizing their confirmations.
The Senate Intelligence and Health Committees are set to hold hearings this week, where both nominees will address concerns raised by lawmakers from both parties.
With a slim Republican majority in the Senate, the confirmation of these controversial nominees may hinge on a small number of undecided GOP senators.