Haley skewers Trump picks Gabbard, RFK Jr.

[ad_1] The sudden withdrawal of former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled choose for legal professional normal, amid opposition from Senate Republicans, marks the primary main setback for Trump as he fills his Cupboard -- however different high-profile nominees additionally look like going through mounting pushback from members of his personal celebration.

In a latest episode of her SiriusXM radio present, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, skewered Tulsi Gabbard, the president-elect's choice for director of nationwide intelligence, and his alternative for well being and human companies secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. -- blasting each nominees for his or her overseas coverage ideologies.

Talking about Gabbard, Haley stated she had "main points" along with her being proposed and reiterated feedback Gabbard has made previously that she stated run counter to the views of the U.S. intelligence group, together with blaming NATO for the invasion of Ukraine and her resolution to satisfy with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in 2017.

"She has defended Russia, she has defended Syria, she has defended Iran, and she or he has defended China," Haley stated. "DNI has to investigate actual threats. Are we comfy with somebody like that on the high of our nationwide intelligence companies?"

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley introduces Republican senate candidate, Dave McCormick at a marketing campaign rally, Oct. 30, 2024, in Pennsburg, Pa.

Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs

In presenting her argument, Haley additionally emphasised numerous events during which Gabbard -- a former Democratic congresswoman who ran for the celebration's presidential nomination in 2020 earlier than turning into a Republican -- has straight clashed with the president-elect.

"She opposed ending the Iran nuclear deal. She opposed sanctions on Iran. She opposed designating the Iran navy as terrorists who say demise to America each single day," Haley stated. "She stated that Donald Trump turned the U.S. into Saudi Arabia's prostitute. That is going to be the long run head of our nationwide intelligence."

Haley additionally referenced Gabbard's assertion in a 2020 interview that the Trump administration offered "no justification in any way" for authorizing the strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, which Gabbard additionally described on the time as an "unlawful and unconstitutional act of battle."

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard attends a marketing campaign rally of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at PPG Paints Enviornment, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh.

Jeenah Moon/Reuters

"She tried to restrict Trump's battle powers towards Iran. She tried to chop our annual protection funds in order that we could not punish Iran and hinder their affect," Haley stated.

Talking about Kennedy, Haley stated he's "not a well being man" however a "liberal Democrat" who spent his time in Washington siding with progressive insurance policies whereas additionally criticizing his views of U.S. adversaries.

"He stated he would take into account admitting Russia into NATO," Haley stated, an obvious reference to Kennedy's competition that Moscow ought to have been admitted to the alliance following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Haley additionally denounced Kennedy's help for thawing relations with China, which she stated might have deleterious implications for American healthcare.

"Throughout COVID, we talked about how 90% of our medicines had been coming from China and the way dependent we're. He desires us to deescalate tensions," she stated.

Haley was Trump's main opponent within the content material for the GOP's presidential nomination however endorsed him after dropping out of the race in March.

<img alt="PHOTO: In this Oct. 9, 2018 file photo President Donald Trump meets with Nikki Haley, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in the Oval office of the White House in Washington, DC." class="hsDdd vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI " data-testid="prism-image" draggable="false" loading="lazy" src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/af8d305a-a6c4-4261-83fd-1d7d167d626b/haley-trump-file-gty-ml-241121_1732208403481_hpEmbed_23x15.jpg"/> On this Oct. 9, 2018 file picture President Donald Trump meets with Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations within the Oval workplace of the White Home in Washington, DC.

Olivier Douliery/AFP through Getty Photographs, FILE

After successful the White Home, the president-elect publicly introduced he wouldn't invite Haley again to serve in his second administration. However Haley, at the very least outwardly, has maintained a cordial relationship with Trump and dismissed the snub, insisting she made it clear she had "little interest in being in his Cupboard."

Sources inform ABC Information that Gaetz bowed out of what was shaping as much as be a futile affirmation battle on Thursday after it grew to become clear to Trump's crew that the previous Florida lawmaker, who's going through intercourse trafficking and drug use allegations, had "no path" to securing 50 votes within the Republican-led Senate.

Whereas it is not clear that both Gabbard or Kennedy face equally lengthy odds within the chamber, each have been lambasted by Republicans in latest days.

Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh slammed each candidates throughout an interview on Sunday.

"These folks don't have any enterprise operating these departments," he stated. "This is sort of a revenge towards Dr. Fauci relating to RFK Jr., however Tulsi Gabbard, the very best you'll be able to say about her is she's a Putin cheerleader. That is the very best you'll be able to say."

Gabbard has additionally attracted the ire of the "Wall Avenue Journal's" right-leaning editorial board, which stated she has "given no indication throughout her lengthy political profession that she is the precise individual" to guide the intelligence group.

The Trump-friendly New York Put up took intention at each Gabbard and Kennedy, calling the previous congresswoman a "dreadful" choose and saying "it is exhausting to see" how Kennedy could lead on the Division of Well being and Human Providers to "sensible options."

Through the affirmation course of, Republicans are anticipated to press Kennedy, who switched his celebration affiliation from Democrat to impartial in 2023, on a variety of views — together with his criticism of vaccines and historical past of supporting abortion rights.

Former Republican presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gestures as he speaks forward of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a marketing campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nov. 1, 2024.

Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP through Getty Photographs

However one other controversial nominee, Pete Hegseth, the previous Fox Information co-host whom Trump has tapped to guide the Pentagon, seems to be gaining GOP help.

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma stated Hegseth could be a "good" secretary of protection.

Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault in 2017, and new particulars concerning the allegation emerged on Wednesday when a police report on the incident was made public. He has denied all wrongdoing and was by no means charged with against the law.

After Hegseth met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, a number of Republicans appeared poised to look previous the accusations towards him.

"Since no fees had been introduced by the authorities, we've solely press experiences," Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the rating Republican on the Armed Providers Committee, stated.