It’s been nine months since President Trump was sworn in for a second term, and confirmation hearings are still keeping Capitol Hill busy. Currently, 120 or more nominees are in the process of being considered by the Senate.
The positions filled at this level are generally second-tier – Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Commissioners – but they still fall within the scope of the Senate’s advice and consent powers.
One person waiting for the verdict is Aamer Ghalib, Appointed by Trump as US Ambassador to KuwaitNominated eight months ago, he is now believed to be likely to receive an adverse recommendation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if his nomination is not withdrawn sooner.
Yemen-born Ghalib was the first mayor of Hamtramck, an enclave of Detroit famous for being built. In 2013, America’s first Muslim-majority cityHe was elected as a Democrat in 2021, joining the all-Muslim six-member City Council, becoming increasingly known for his socially conservative and pro-Trump views. He banned the flying of gay pride flags on public flagpoles. They have a history of creating, or seemingly supporting, Racist and anti-Semitic comments on social media,
For Trump, what mattered about Ghalib was his loyal support during last year’s election. Mayor supported Trump After their meeting in September. He appeared with her in many public programs. His reward was an ambassadorial post.
If Trump can ignore challenging opinions and policy positions, the Foreign Relations Committee is more reluctant. Ghalib appeared in October and was questioned about anti-Semitic comments, support for Houthi terrorist attacks on Israel and other charges Describing the Muslim Brotherhood as an “inspiration”. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) have already indicated that they will vote against the nominationAnd Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) is also said to be unhappy with his nomination. If all Democrats on the committee oppose him, Ghalib will already be out of the running.
Some say this increased level of skepticism toward Trump’s nominees on their own part is evidence that congressional Republicans are asserting their independence from a White House that demands complete obedience and submission.
Last month, the nomination of Joel Rayburn to be Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Withdrawn After clashing with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Paul Ingrassia’s candidacy for Special Counsel was abandoned due to allegations he sent Racist and pro-Nazi text messages,
Are these glimpses into the life of the mainstream Republican Party trying to put distance between themselves and the President? I Written in April 2024 About how Trump was gathering the reins of power in the hands of various family members, and how he came to dominate the party in a way he had not during his first presidency. Trump 2.0 features virtually none of Trump’s first-term personnel, such as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Plus, Republicans can’t ignore Trump’s approval ratings Have fallen Remarkably. Any elected Republican will look at these figures and cry.
Trump won’t have to present himself to voters again, so he can afford to be in denial about the polling data. But now there is less than a year left for the mid-term elections. The strong showing by Democrats recently capturing the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia and the mayorship of New York City should be cause for alarm. If Republicans want a post-Trump future, especially when the president is so unpopular, it must be about more than their unquestioned means and echo chamber.
It would take too much time to reject candidates clearly unsuitable for middleweight offices. There is a clear credibility gap, especially among Senate Republicans. All but one – Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) – voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. They unanimously endorsed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Even the aggressive, simple-minded, masochistic-addicted Pete Hegseth was opposed by only three Republicans. Vice President J.D. Vance was forced to go to the Senate and cast the tie-breaking 51st vote to bring Hegseth over the line. Secretary of Defense,
Too often, Republicans have nodded meekly to marginal candidates, hyper-partisans, and nominees who are clearly unqualified or unsuitable. It is one element of many of the fierce loyalty Trump expects from his party, as well as an article of faith that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.
Aamer Ghalib can never become ambassador to Kuwait. But his rejection will not prove that Republicans in Washington have agency independent of Trump. This will require much more.
Eliot Wilson is an author, historian, and senior fellow for national security at the Coalition for Global Prosperity. He is also a contributing editor to Defense on the Brink,
