Gabbard, RFK Jr. pass muster in Senate

Two of President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominations, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary, were both approved by the Senate this week, with New Jersey Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker voting no.

Gabbard and Kennedy, both former Democrats who became devoted allies of Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, had been seen as two of the most challenging nominees to get through the Senate. But in the end, every Senate Republican except former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) voted yes, and the pair were each approved 52-48.

In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, Kim – who had gotten the opportunity to question Kennedy during a hearing of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee – outlined why he believed the Kennedy family scion was unfit to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

“I support efforts to address ultra-processed foods in America, to try to make sure we can have Americans eating healthier,” Kim said. “But I also want someone who is not going to shoot from the hip and spread disinformation.”

Booker, a devoted vegan who has made nutrition and access to healthy foods a focus of his Senate tenure, had been referenced early on in the confirmation process as a possible swing vote on Kennedy, who likewise has called for changes to America’s unhealthy consumption habits. The senator told reporters at one point that he and Kennedy were “talking out of the same playbook” on food reform issues.

But amid widespread Democratic opposition to Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his lack of government experience, Booker’s no vote was not a surprise.

As for Gabbard, Kim said that he was strongly distrustful of Gabbard’s sympathy for some of America’s foreign adversaries, like former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“As someone who has worked in national security, including directly with the Director of National Intelligence, I cannot vote to put our nation’s trust in Tulsi Gabbard,” he said in a statement. “Ms. Gabbard’s past decisions to meet with and amplify disinformation from our adversaries is disqualifying. The President deserves someone in this role proven to put American interests first. This is the wrong appointment and one I strongly oppose.”

Another contentious nominee is likely to come to the Senate floor soon: Kash Patel, Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, which cleared Patel’s nomination this morning, Booker has taken a leading role in questioning Patel over his loyalty to Trump and his role in the firings of FBI agents and inspectors general.

“Kash Patel is dangerous, dishonest, and unqualified – I am calling for President Trump to withdraw his nomination to be the Director of the FBI, and if his nomination is brought to the Senate floor, I will vote NO,” Booker said in a lengthy social media thread yesterday. “Kash Patel is a danger to the country, and to the rule of law. He should not step foot in the FBI building.”

So far, out of the 16 Trump nominees who have come before the Senate, Booker has supported four and Kim has supported three. Booker and Kim both voted for Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe; Booker also supported Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who was confirmed just today, while Kim supported Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

No Trump nominee has failed on the Senate floor, though one, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew himself from consideration as attorney general after his nomination came under heavy bipartisan scrutiny.