JD Vance Issues Clear Message To Senate Republicans Opposed To President Trump’s Nominees

Three of the most contentious Senate confirmation hearings thus far in President Donald Trump’s second term have been playing out on Capitol Hill this week.

His picks to serve as Director of National intelligence, lead the FBI, and lead the Department of Health and Human Services — Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., respectively — have all appeared before senators for often combative hearings in recent days.

While the opposition from Senate Democrats might be par of the course, Vice President JD Vance, who was a member of the Senate prior to accepting his current position, directed a blunt statement to some of his former GOP colleagues.

According to Fox News:

Vance said he ultimately believes the trio will make it through the process, but Republicans will “have to fight for each one.”

He praised Senate Republicans for being “freethinking and “independent” but argued the commander-in-chief is the one who gets to decide who he wants in his Cabinet.

“…The president has made his selections and 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,” Vance told Hannity Thursday. “You don’t get to make these decisions. President Trump gets to make these decisions, and he already has.”

The former Ohio senator encouraged his fellow Republicans to look at Trump’s 2024 coalition, questioning whether they could have won in November had they not included people like Gabbard and RFK, Jr.

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Of course, the majority of GOP senators seem to be united behind Trump’s nominees:

Today, at @RobertKennedyJr's HELP hearing, I made it clear that we need medical freedom.

There's such a belief in submission.

"Submit to the government. Do what you're told."

There is no discussion. There ought to be a debate.

RFK Jr. has my vote. MAHA! pic.twitter.com/F0AnthzFHf

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) January 30, 2025

I’m glad to support @TulsiGabbard in her nomination for DNI. 702 authority is used to ensure the safety and security of Americans and to track terrorists before they are able to enter the United States. We are stopping attacks before they happen. I am pleased that Tulsi agrees… pic.twitter.com/TBdY3tj9ch

— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) January 12, 2025

BREAKING 🚨 Senator Eric Schmitt who just left the Kash Patel hearing said we need to get Kash Patel confirmed as the next FBI director 🇺🇸

YES WE DO, GET IT DONE pic.twitter.com/CwOCZgl9Nv

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 30, 2025

But with such a narrow majority in the Senate, just a few Republican defections could sink a nominee’s chances. In fact, Vance has already had to step in to decide a tied vote following an earlier hearing, as Axios reported last week:

Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed as President Trump’s Defense secretary after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote.

Why it matters: Hegseth survived a bruising confirmation battle that was nearly derailed by accusations of sexual assault and other forms of misconduct.

• The Senate voted 51-50 late Friday to confirm Hegseth, who has denied the allegations against him.

• Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voted no along with GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine).

• It was only the second time in U.S. history that a vice president cast a tie-breaking vote to confirm a Cabinet nominee.

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Here’s some additional coverage of that razor-thin confirmation margin: