Nikki Haley skewers controversial Trump nominees

The sudden withdrawal of former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled decide for lawyer normal, amid opposition from Senate Republicans marks the primary main setback for Trump as he fills his Cupboard —however different high-profile nominees additionally seem like going through mounting opposition from members of his personal occasion.

In a latest episode of her SiriusXM radio present, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, skewered Tulsi Gabbard, the president-elect’s choice for director of nationwide intelligence, and his alternative for well being and human providers secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — blasting each nominees for his or her international coverage ideologies.

Talking about Gabbard, Haley mentioned she had “main points” along with her candidacy and reiterated feedback Gabbard has made up to now that run counter to the views of the U.S. intelligence group, together with blaming NATO for the invasion of Ukraine and her determination to satisfy with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in 2017.

“She has defended Russia, she has defended Syria, she has defended Iran, and he or she has defended China,” Haley mentioned. “DNI has to research actual threats. Are we comfy with somebody like that on the prime of our nationwide intelligence businesses?”

In presenting her argument, Haley additionally emphasised numerous events by which Gabbard — a former Democratic congresswoman who ran for the occasion’s presidential nomination in 2020 earlier than turning into a Republican — has straight clashed with the president-elect.

“She opposed ending the Iran nuclear deal. She opposed sanctions on Iran. She opposed designating the Iran navy as terrorists who say dying to America each single day,” Haley mentioned. “She mentioned that Donald Trump turned the U.S. into Saudi Arabia’s prostitute. That is going to be the long run head of our nationwide intelligence.”

Haley additionally referenced Gabbard’s assertion in a 2020 interview that the Trump administration offered “no justification by any means” for authorizing the strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, which Gabbard additionally described on the time as an “unlawful and unconstitutional act of battle.”

“She tried to restrict Trump’s battle powers in opposition to Iran. She tried to chop our annual protection finances in order that we could not punish Iran and hinder their affect,” Haley mentioned.

Talking about Kennedy, Haley mentioned he’s “not a well being man” however a “liberal Democrat” who spent his time in Washington siding with progressive insurance policies whereas additionally criticizing his views of U.S. adversaries.

“He mentioned he would take into account admitting Russia into NATO,” Haley mentioned, an obvious reference to Kennedy’s rivalry that Moscow ought to have been admitted to the alliance following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Haley additionally denounced Kennedy’s assist for thawing relations with China, which she mentioned may have deleterious implications for American healthcare.

“Throughout COVID, we talked about how 90% of our medicines have been coming from China and the way dependent we’re. He needs us to deescalate tensions,” she mentioned.

Haley was Trump’s main opponent within the content material for the GOP’s presidential nomination however endorsed him after dropping out of the race in March.

After successful the White Home, the president-elect publicly introduced he wouldn’t invite Haley again to serve in his second administration. However Haley, at the very least outwardly, has maintained a cordial relationship with Trump and disregarded the snub, insisting she made it clear she had “little interest in being in his Cupboard.”

Sources inform ABC Information that Gaetz bowed out of what was shaping as much as be a futile affirmation battle on Thursday after it turned clear to Trump’s workforce that the previous Florida lawmaker, who’s going through intercourse trafficking and drug use allegations, had “no path” to securing 50 votes within the Republican-led Senate.

Whereas it is not clear that both Gabbard or Kennedy face equally lengthy odds within the chamber, each have been lambasted by Republicans in latest days.

Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh slammed each candidates throughout an interview on Sunday.

“These individuals haven’t any enterprise operating these departments,” he mentioned. “This is sort of a revenge in opposition to Dr. Fauci with regards to RFK Jr., however Tulsi Gabbard, the very best you’ll be able to say about her is she’s a Putin cheerleader. That is the very best you’ll be able to say.”

Gabbard has additionally attracted the ire of the “Wall Road Journal’s” right-leaning editorial board, which mentioned she has “given no indication throughout her lengthy political profession that she is the fitting particular person” to guide the intelligence group.

The Trump-friendly “New York Put up” took intention at each Gabbard and Kennedy, calling the previous congresswoman a “dreadful” decide and saying “it is onerous to see” how Kennedy could lead on the Division of Well being and Human Companies to “sensible options.”

Throughout the affirmation course of, Republicans are anticipated to press Kennedy, who switched his occasion affiliation from Democrat to unbiased in 2023, on a variety of views — together with his criticism of vaccines and historical past of supporting abortion rights.

However one other controversial nominee, Pete Hegseth, the Fox Information co-host whom Trump has tapped to guide the Pentagon, seems to be gaining GOP assist.

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma mentioned Hegseth could be a “good” secretary of protection.

Hegseth is accused of committing sexual assault in 2017, and new particulars in regards to the allegation emerged on Wednesday when a police report on the incident was made public. He has denied all wrongdoing and was by no means charged with a criminal offense.

After Hegseth met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, a number of Republicans appeared poised to look previous the accusations in opposition to the nominee.

“Since no fees have been introduced by the authorities, now we have solely press stories,” Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi mentioned.