Nikki Haley skewers controversial Trump nominee

The sudden withdrawal of former Rep. Florida Matt Gaetz, the choice of President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled Attorney General, in the middle of opposition from the Republican Senate marked the first major setback for Trump when he filled the Cabinet-but other high-profile nominations also seemed to be. faced considerable opposition from members of his own party.

On a recent episode of her SiriusXM radio show, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, skewered Tulsi Gabbard, the president’s pick for director of national intelligence, and her pick for secretary of health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – blasting both nominees for foreign policy ideology.

Speaking about Gabbard, Haley said she had “major problems” with the candidacy and repeated comments Gabbard has made in the past that contradicted the views of the US intelligence community, including blaming NATO for the invasion of Ukraine and its decision to meet. Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in 2017.

“They’ve defended Russia, they’ve defended Syria, they’ve defended Iran, and they’ve defended China,” Haley said. “DNI must analyze the real threat. Are we comfortable with such a person at the top of our national intelligence agency?”

In making her argument, Haley also highlighted multiple occasions where Gabbard — a former Democratic congresswoman who ran for the party’s presidential nomination in 2020 before becoming a Republican — has directly clashed with the president-elect.

“He is opposed to ending the Iran nuclear deal. He is opposed to sanctions against Iran. He is opposed to designating the Iranian military as a terrorist who is saying death to America every day,” Haley said. “They say that Donald Trump is turning the US into a whore of Saudi Arabia. This is going to be our head of national intelligence.”

Haley also referenced Gabbard’s statement in a 2020 interview that the Trump administration provided “no justification” for authorizing the strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, which Gabbard also described at the time as an “unlawful and unconstitutional act of war.”

“They’re trying to limit Trump’s war powers against Iran. They’re trying to cut the annual defense budget so we can’t punish Iran and curb its influence,” Haley said.

Speaking about Kennedy, Haley said he was “not a sane person” but a “liberal Democrat” who spent time in Washington with progressive policies while also criticizing his views on US enemies.

“They said they would consider admitting Russia to NATO,” Haley said, an apparent reference to Kennedy’s claim that Moscow should be admitted to the alliance after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Haley also blamed Kennedy’s support for cutting ties with China, which she said could have dire implications for American health care.

“During COVID, we are talking about 90% of medicines coming from China and how dependent they are. They want us to reduce tension,” he said.

Haley was Trump’s main opponent in contention for the GOP presidential nomination but endorsed him after dropping out of the race in March.

After winning the White House, the president-elect publicly announced he would not invite Haley back for a second administration. But Haley, at least outwardly, has maintained cordial relations with Trump and shrugged off the snub, insisting that he has “no interest in the Cabinet.”

Sources told ABC News that Gaetz bowed out of what would be a futile confirmation battle on Thursday after it became clear to Trump’s team that the former Florida lawmaker, who faces charges of sex trafficking and drug use, “has no way” of securing 50 votes. in the Republican-led Senate.

While it’s unclear whether Gabbard or Kennedy face similar odds in the chamber, both have been stymied by Republicans in recent years.

Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh slammed both candidates during an interview on Friday.

“These people have no business running the department,” he said. “It’s like taking revenge on Dr. Fauci when it comes to RFK Jr., but Tulsi Gabbard, the best you can say about her is that she’s a Putin cheerleader. The best you can say.”

Gabbard also drew the attention of the “Wall Street Journal” editorial board, which said that he “has given no indication in his long political career that he is the right person” to lead the intelligence community.

The Trump-friendly “New York Post” took aim at Gabbard and Kennedy, calling the former congresswoman a “terrible” choice and saying it was “hard to see” how Kennedy could lead the Department of Health and Human Services to “practical solutions.”

During the confirmation process, Republicans are expected to press Kennedy, who switched party affiliation from Democrat to independent in 2023, on a variety of views — including his criticism of vaccines and his history of supporting abortion rights.

But another controversial nominee, Pete Hegseth, the Fox News co-host tapped by Trump to lead the Pentagon, appears to be gaining GOP support.

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said Hegseth would make a “perfect” defense secretary.

Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017, and new details about the allegations emerged on Wednesday when a police report on the incident was made public. He has denied all wrongdoing and has never been charged with a crime.

After Hegseth met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, some Republicans appeared ready to see past the allegations against the nominee.

“Because no charges have been brought by the authorities, we only have press reports,” said Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi.