A handful of Democrats in the Senate are taking an unexpected conciliatory approach toward President-elect Donald Trump’s slew of Cabinet nominees, even pledging to remain “open-minded” when the confirmation process kicks off.
The Democrats’ approach signals a significant departure from 2017, when several of Trump’s cabinet picks endured acrimonious confirmation hearings.
“Until these folks are scheduled to face the Senate, Democrats are going to let the Republicans do the knifing,” said one senior congressional Democratic aide.
The move indicates that at least some Democrats — particularly incumbents from swing states swept by Trump last month — are more willing to reach across the aisle as they prepare to be in the minority by a margin of 53-47 in January.
“I will give any president’s nominees good-faith consideration and will be eager to learn how they believe their tenure, should they be confirmed, will benefit Georgia,” said GOP Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, adding, “I am, as always, open-minded.”
Michigan Democrat Gary Peters echoed Ossoff’s sentiment closely, saying he would act in good faith and consider “every candidate on their own qualifications and on their own merit.”
However, it’s unlikely that any Democrats in the Senate will vote to confirm the president-elect’s more divisive choices, such as Kath Patel for chief of the FBI or Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
“If they are reasonable, we will be reasonable. I think you will see less blanket opposition than the first time around, but we will not give up our roles,” said Democrat Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii.
“Hegseth is a huge person of interest — just because of the lack of international experience and alcohol issues and sexual misconduct as well,” said the Democratic aide, referencing recent anonymous allegations of professional and personal misconduct against Trump’s pick for the Pentagon.
“That’s judgment, could be at 3 a.m.,” said the aide of the round-the-clock job.
This means nominees for the secretary of labor and secretary of state positions, including Oregon Representative Lori Chavez DeRemer and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, are unlikely to be held up as vulnerable Democrats look to choose their battles more carefully.
“I’m going to give everybody a fair shake,” said Democrat Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who watched the Garden State tilted more to the right by 10 points last month.
Sen. Fetterman remains pragmatic on Trump’s picks
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was pragmatic when summarizing the shift in tone among his colleagues.
“That’s what happens when the other side wins. They get their choices in those things,” said Fetterman.
The junior Keystone State senator even had a kind word for SpaceX and Tesla billionaire Elo Musk, who has taken a visible role in the incoming Trump administration and is set to co-head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
“I admire Elon Musk. He has been involved in very important parts of American society,” said Fetterman Thursday from the Capitol.
“Yes, he’s on a different team, but that doesn’t make me an enemy. …He has improved our economy and nation, and our politics are different, [but] that doesn’t make him an enemy.”
The Senate has yet to schedule any confirmations. However, the hearings will begin in January after the new Congress is sworn in.
