The confirmation juggernaut: How Trump is getting everything he wants in building his Cabinet

President Donald Trump’s Confirmation Success: A New Era of Executive Power

President Donald Trump is proving once again that he is a force to be reckoned with, particularly when it comes to shaping his administration. Despite initial doubts and opposition, Trump is successfully getting his nominees confirmed in the Senate, even those who were once deemed unconfirmable. This is not just about filling positions; it’s about solidifying his influence and vision for the country. The nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., for attorney general last November? That was a lifetime ago. Pushed out. Withdrawn. Unconfirmable. Whatever you want to call it. But the reality is, Trump is getting what he wants, and his nominees are being confirmed at an unprecedented rate.

The Senate has already confirmed at least one nominee whom political experts deemed as potentially unconfirmable a few weeks ago: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth skated through to confirmation with three GOP nays, but Vice President JD Vance broke a tie. It was only the second time in U.S. history that the Senate confirmed a Cabinet secretary on a tiebreaking vote by the vice president. And by the end of the week, the Senate will likely confirm two other controversial nominees who at one point seemed to be a stretch. The Senate votes Monday night to break a filibuster on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence, with her confirmation vote likely coming Wednesday. After that, the Senate will likely crush a filibuster on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Health and Human Services Secretary, with Kennedy possibly being confirmed by late Thursday.

The Confirmation Process: A Juggernaut Unlike Any Other

It was unthinkable in November that Trump might be able to muscle through certain nominees, but this is turning out to be a confirmation juggernaut. Yes, challenges await former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., who’s up for Labor Secretary. Some Republicans believe Chavez-DeRemer is too pro-labor. And the Department of Education may not be around long enough for the Senate to ever confirm Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon. But so far, Republicans are sticking together. Many Senate Republicans aren’t willing to buck the president. They believe the GOP owes its majority in the House and Senate to him. So they’re willing to defer to Mr. Trump. Moreover, some Republicans worry about the president hammering them on Truth Social or engineering a primary challenge against them. Or, perhaps just pressuring them.

Groups aligned with the president went after Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, late last year after her initial meeting with Hegseth. Ernst, a military veteran and a sexual assault survivor, had expressed reservations about Hegseth in an interview on Fox, suggesting she wanted "a thorough vetting." But weeks later, Ernst came around and gave Hegseth the green light following a second meeting. The same dynamic is playing out with other senators. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., dodged reporters’ questions about his stance on Gabbard for days until he finally released a letter from Gabbard that allayed his concerns. Specifically, Young wanted Gabbard to state that she wouldn’t push for a pardon for Edward Snowden, the infamous whistleblower who fled to Moscow with a trove of U.S. intelligence secrets. Gabbard, who once advocated for a pardon for Snowden, obliged.

Overcoming Opposition: The Art of Persuasion and Pressure

What made the difference in salvaging these nominations, which once teetered on the edge? Multiple Senate Republicans point to their former colleague, Vice President JD Vance. Vance has worked quietly in the shadows, leaning on his relationship with senators, to convince skeptical Republicans to get on board with controversial nominees. The Trump Administration saw how quickly the nomination of Matt Gaetz evaporated last fall. There was worry that robust GOP pushback could jeopardize an entire slate of nominees. So, has Vance deployed soft power with senators? Or has he dispelled concerns through brute force? Judge for yourself.

Consider what the vice president said about the role of senators during an interview on Fox last month: "You don’t have to agree with everything Bobby Kennedy has ever said. You don’t have to agree with everything that Tulsi Gabbard has ever said," said Vance of Republican senators. "You are meant to ask, ‘Do they have the qualifications and the character to do this job?’ The person who decides whether they should be nominated in the first place, he was the guy elected by the American people. That’s President Trump." Vance’s approach seems to have worked. The Senate has confirmed 13 of Trump’s nominees so far. Eleven obtained bipartisan support, with the likes of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum securing Democratic votes. Attorney General Pam Bondi even got one Democratic yes, from Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn.

The Role of JD Vance: The Man Behind the Curtain

JD Vance’s influence cannot be overstated. He has been the key player in convincing skeptical Republicans to support Trump’s nominees. Vance’s relationship with his former Senate colleagues has been instrumental in swaying votes. Take Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., for example. Young had serious reservations about Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to serve as Director of National Intelligence, particularly her stance on Edward Snowden. But after speaking with Trump, Vance, and even Elon Musk, Young released a letter from Gabbard that allayed his concerns. "There was certain language I wanted her to embrace," said Young. Similarly, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who chairs the Senate Health Committee, had concerns about RFK Jr.’s stance on vaccines. But after RFK Jr. committed to a "unprecedentedly close, collaborative working relationship" with Cassidy, the senator came on board, paving the way for RFK Jr.’s nomination to move forward.

What made the difference in both cases? Vance’s quiet influence. He has been working behind the scenes, leveraging his relationships and making the case for Trump’s nominees. His approach has been effective, and as a result, the Trump Administration is able to push through controversial nominees that were once considered unconfirmable. Vance’s role is a testament to the power of personal relationships and persuasion in politics.

Democratic Resistance: Fighting a Losing Battle

Despite Republican unity, Democrats are pushing back against Trump’s nominees with all they’ve got. While they can’t stop the confirmations due to the GOP’s majority, they are determined to make the process as painful as possible. For example, the Senate will likely require all available time to confirm both Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Democrats are also taking to the floor to speak out against these nominees, raising concerns about their qualifications, past statements, and policy positions. It’s a losing battle in terms of stopping the confirmations, but it’s a way for Democrats to voice their opposition and energize their base.

Some Democrats, like Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., believe that presidents deserve to have a cabinet of people they choose – unless those nominees are egregious or unqualified. But in this case, they argue that Trump’s nominees cross that line. For example, RFK Jr. has been a vocal skeptic of vaccines, which has raised alarms among Democrats and public health advocates. Tulsi Gabbard, on the other hand, has been criticized for her past association with authoritarian leaders and her refusal to label Edward Snowden a traitor. These concerns have galvanized Democratic opposition, even if it’s largely symbolic.

The Bigger Picture: What This Means for Trump and the GOP

So, what does this mean for Trump and the GOP? It’s clear that Trump’s influence over the Republican Party remains strong. Senate Republicans are largely unwilling to buck the president, even when they have serious reservations about his nominees. The fear of Trump’s wrath on Truth Social, or the prospect of a primary challenge engineered by the president, is enough to keep most senators in line. At the same time, Trump’s ability to pick nominees who are unapologetically aligned with his worldview is paying off. Love him or hate him, Trump is getting what he wants when it comes to confirmations.

The implications are significant. This confirmation juggernaut gives Trump a powerful mandate to reshape the executive branch in his image. It also sets a precedent for future administrations, where the president’s nominees are given the benefit of the doubt, even if they are controversial or unorthodox. For Democrats, this is a troubling development. They are forced to watch as Trump remakes the federal government with nominees who reflect his polarizing views. But for now, there’s little they can do except delay the inevitable and hope that voters hold Republicans accountable in the next election.

In the end, this is a victory for Trump and his allies. They are proving that even in a divided government, the president still wields significant power when it comes to shaping his administration. And with JD Vance quietly working behind the scenes to keep Senate Republicans united, the confirmation train shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.