Trump team warns Republicans to support Cabinet picks or face primary funded by Musk
Trump team warns Republicans to support Cabinet picks or face primary funded by Musk
As controversy continues to cloud some of Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, his team has a sharp warning for Republicans who don't fall in line, ABC's Jonathan Karl reports.
Summary
President-elect Donald Trump’s team warned Republican lawmakers to support his controversial Cabinet picks or risk facing primary challenges funded by Elon Musk.
Amid scrutiny over nominees like Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Trump insisted the president determines the Cabinet.
Resistance has grown among Senate Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis, opposing “recess appointments” to bypass confirmation.
Senators like Josh Hawley and Mitch McConnell emphasized the need for proper constitutional vetting of nominees despite Trump’s pressure tactics.
Wow.
He's basically threatening to "buy" them out of office with his billionare friend's money if they even question his picks.
What's the word I'm looking for... Nepotism? That doesn't seem to cover it.
Hmm, one guy... at the top... threatens other government officials if he doesn't get exactly what he wants...
Coming up empty. 😐
Yeah...
Cronyism?
If you need an -ism' try cronyism
Trump's GOP: "we're the party of FREEDOM! Now pretend you like the hoard of unqualified psychopaths Trump has chosen, otherwise we're just going to pay to get them in power anyway!
COMPLY! OBEY! DO AS YOU'RE TOLD OR FACE DIRE CONSEQUENCES!
You're going to have so much freedom now"
I view this as mildly positive. It means that more picks are in trouble, and the Senate is not just gonna roll over and recess them into their jobs without hearings. Senators who got elected this time, in particular, have 6-year terms that will outlast Trump's term. Who knows what state MAGA and Musk will be in by then?
(There will be plenty of horrible picks that get through, of course, but the worst of the worst might get blocked by Republicans, just like Gaetz.)
This also really does show the power dynamic here. Musk is Trump's sugar daddy. Trump's entire career was built on spending Daddy's money, why should his political career be any different? Musk owns Trump now, and I think this proves that.
I do not believe for 1 second any of the talk from either Hawley or Tillis is truthful. They say they oppose the recess appointments but they will end up rubber stamping anyoneTrump puts forward. I really think Gaetz would have gotten through. Oh sure Mukorwski or Collins would be "very concerned" about it but would vote accordingly.
Who knows what state MAGA and Musk will be in by then?
For Musk, I personally hope he's in the 6 foot under state pretty damn soon.
I was sick of that piece of shit before, but lately he's been going full douche overdrive. He's buying the entire government... If this isn't the best damn case against having billionaires as a possibility I don't know what is.
Just waiting for him to overdose on the ketamine he’s so fond of.
This is when I wish conspiracy theories of a deep state shadow government that takes out rogue actors were real
Seems like there isn't any reason to play along with his horrible appointments unless you're 100% on board already drinking the kool-aid. If you're up in 2 years then bad picks will exacerbate the problems trump causes making '26 a referendum on trump which would be bad for any republicans. If you're up in 2 or 4 years you'll outlast trump and his ire won't mean too much.
Lol so that was musk reason for calling Putin, he bought trumps debt.
They'll roll over. They always do. Any resistance is just for show. They don't want to look completely spineless. Just mostly spineless.
I’m old enough to remember when the Republican base was pretending to be alarmed by “rich men north of Richmond” pulling strings and undermining the will of the people. Oh, and remember “the swamp”? That was a good one.
Time to deport the illegal immigrant musk
But don't worry, Trump has no involvement with Project 2025. He's just doing every single thing it spells out
Since the Supreme Court gave Biden immunity and he’s fucking 80 he should do something drastic To show he even cares about us
They didn't give Biden immunity - they gave themselves the right to determine what actions a President can or cannot do with immunity.
He doesn't. He cares more about Bibi
Wishful thinking, catch myself doing it too sometimes.
If he cared about us, he wouldn't have run for re-election in the first place.
Unless it involves giving Israel more bombs, Biden doesn’t give a fuck
On one hand: get money out of politics, end citizens united, etc
On the other hand: lol. lmao, even
Is that a threat, blackmail, or both?
It's how politics is done now. AIPAC and the NRA have been doing this for decades.
I’m surprised that Josh Hawley is standing up to Trump given that he is an absolute coward. I live right near this toad.
ooooh scary
That is scary to them. Because they know that will be the end of their career.
Harris outspent Trump by a significant amount and still lost. Take that as you will.
Harris vs. Trump wasn't a primary. It also had to appeal to a much larger group of people with much wider views.
Senators look in the mirror and see a future president. They might not have spines, but the size of their ego let's them stand.