By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, cabinet nominees including Marco Rubio, Pam Bondi and John Ratcliffe were among the six candidates who spent hours fielding questions from senators on Capitol Hill.
National security and law enforcement nominees are among the first to kick off the confirmation hearings, given the urgent and sensitive nature of their work.
With news of a ceasefire in Gaza breaking Wednesday afternoon, the nominees had a chance to weigh in on this, and other evolving global issues.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio was briefly interrupted by protesters early in his hearing. Despite the interruption, Rubio was able to outline the agenda for a Trump state department.
“A strong America engaged in the world but guided by a clear objective to promote peace abroad and security and prosperity here at home,” said Rubio.
Today, President-elect Donald Trump, touted his role in a ceasefire-hostage deal Wednesday afternoon.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,” said Trump on the social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump credited his Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for his work in securing the deal.
“We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!” Trump added in the post.
News of the deal broke during Rubio’s confirmation hearing.
“Steve Witkoff’s been a critical component of it and has been involved in it from day one,” said Rubio. “I think the broader consideration about whether we want to see a Saudi-Israeli mutual recognition and relationship would be one of the most historic developments in the history of the region.”
President Joe Biden also took credit for the deal, saying he laid out the ceasefire plan months ago.
“I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council. It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done,” said Biden in a statement.
The outgoing president is expected to provide more details about the deal during his farewell address from the White House Wednesday evening.
On the topic of foreign relations, Rubio was also asked about other pressing issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“There will have to be concessions made by the Russian Federation, but also by the Ukrainians,” said Rubio after stating “the war has to end.”
Respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Rubio is expected to see a smoother confirmation than other nominees.
“There are some people that I’m going to be excited or very supportive of them, like Rubio,” said Sen. John Fetterman (D- PA) in December.
In a separate confirmation hearing, Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, told the Senate Judiciary Committee she plans to return the Justice Department to its core mission of keeping Americans safe.
“And it will be my great responsibility to make America safe again,” said Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General. “And that includes getting back to basics. Gangs, drugs, terrorists, cartels, our border and our foreign adversaries.”
Foreign adversaries, including China, were a major topic in other confirmation hearings Wednesday.
“Today, we face what may be the most challenging national security environment in our nation’s history,” said John Ratcliffe, Trump’s choice to lead the CIA. “The Chinese Communist Party remains committed to dominating the world economically, militarily and technologically.”
Ratcliffe also took aim at transnational criminal organizations, including drug cartels.
“Transnational criminal organizations are flooding American communities with violence and deadly narcotics,” said Ratcliffe.
The confirmation hearing blitz continues Thursday as Republicans race to have everything in order ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
Once the confirmation hearings wrap up, committees will vote on whether to recommend nominees to the full Senate. The candidates will need votes from a majority of senators for final confirmation.
