Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks faced intense questioning from Democratic senators during their confirmation hearings on Thursday. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel underwent scrutiny over various issues.
Kennedy faced questions about his position on gender-affirming care, with references to a controversial report. Gabbard was pressed on her past supportive statements of Russian President Putin and her meeting with Syria’s Assad. Patel, nominated to lead the FBI, encountered skepticism regarding his loyalty to Trump and his controversial statements about the Jan. 6 riot.
Kennedy refused to commit to keeping the abortion pill available, while also refusing to reject the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Gabbard dodged questions about her support for leaker Edward Snowden. Patel defended himself against accusations of politicizing the FBI.
The hearings laid bare tensions within the GOP on vaccines, with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine claims drawing criticism. Gabbard’s past actions and statements regarding Russia and Syria were scrutinized.
Overall, the hearings highlighted the contentious nature of Trump’s nominations and the political divisions within the Senate.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.