Republicans are demanding that the Senate confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s national security picks “as soon as possible” after the deadly New Orleans terror attack and potential terror act in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.
“With reports of ISIS inspiration, the American people expect clear answers from the administration,” said incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on X.
“The threat posed by ISIS will outlast this administration, and this is a clear example of why the Senate must get President Trump’s national security team in place as quickly as possible.”
“The U.S. Senate must confirm President Trump’s national security team as soon as possible. Lives depend on it,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) also wrote Wednesday on X, hours after the attacks.
Incoming Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) also echoed the sentiment, along with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who as facilitated meetings between Trump’s appointees and the Republican conference.
Republicans will hold a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber once all senators are sworn in on Jan. 3, meaning they can only afford to lose four votes before tanking a confirmation once hearings kick off next week.
Some GOPers have already privately expressed reservations about Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, according to Reuters.
But none have come out against FBI Director designee Kash Patel, whose agency would oversee the investigation into the attacks.
Two US military veterans have been identified as the suspects who carried out the attacks on New Year’s Day.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army vet, drove through revelers on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning in New Orleans, killing at least 14, before he was shot dead while exchanging gunfire with police.
Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old former Army special forces drone operator, detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday morning, killing only himself but injuring others.
An ISIS flag was recovered from his truck and Jabbar reportedly posted videos on his Facebook pledging allegiance to the terror group. His brother, Abdur Jabbar, believes his sibling had been radicalized before the rampage.
The Senate will have just two weeks begin confirming nominees before Trump starts his second term on Jan. 20.
“This is why getting President Trump’s cabinet in is so important,” former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Trump’s incoming national security adviser, told Fox News.
“We need Kristi Noem at [the Department of Homeland Security], we need Kash Patel at FBI, we need Pete Hegseth at [the Defense Department], Marco Rubio at [the] State [Department] and of course John Ratcliffe at [the] CIA and Tulsi Gabbard at [the Office of the Director of National Intelligence],” Waltz said.
“That has to be in place Day One,” he affirmed.
Trump previously spoke out about his fears on Senate confirmations being delayed, calling on Republicans to be “smart and tough.”
“We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees,” the incoming president claimed.
“They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them to do that. We have a Country to run, and many big problems to solve, mostly created by Democrats. REPUBLICANS, BE SMART AND TOUGH!!!” he wrote Tuesday on Truth Social.
