White House tells Republicans to get behind Trump's nominees -- or face political 'consequences'

Source: NBC News

Jan. 26, 2025, 7:00 AM EST


WASHINGTON — The White House is seeking to send a message to reticent Senate Republicans to get on board with all of President Donald Trump’s nominees, warning of political consequences for those who defy him. “It’s pass-fail. You either support everyone or you don’t,” a senior White House official told NBC News. “The Senate needs to advise and consent, not advise and adjust.”

The Republican-controlled Senate gave Trump a scare Friday when Pete Hegseth squeaked through by the slimmest possible margin, losing three GOP senators and requiring Vice President JD Vance to break the tie to confirm him as secretary of defense.

And there are more controversial nominees coming before committees this week, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary and Kash Patel for FBI director. All face a rocky path, and their hearings could be decisive.

“There is a very well-funded consortium of outside groups and political actors that are sophisticated, smart and tough. We’ve already seen that they’ve provided air support and narrative support to some nominees,” said the official, referring to allied groups close to, but not directly controlled by, the White House. “They’ll still be very well-funded when the nominations are over, and they’ll exact consequences, I’m sure, to those who do not support the president’s nominees and get them to the finish line.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-republicans-trump-nominees-political-consequences-rcna189288

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If Hegseth got in, then ANY of the ones left would be a shoo-in.

2026 - Susan Collins is up (ME), Thom Tillis is up (NC), Turtle is up (KY - he'll probably not run again and would love to see Beshear in there), Daines is up (MT - wonder if Tester can try again?)