Some Democrats Support Rubio for Secretary of State While Criticizing Hegseth, Gabbard, and Gorka

• Some Democrats are expressing support for Marco Rubio as Trump's Secretary of State.
• The U.S. Senate is now tasked with confirming the 15 cabinet nominations made by Trump in the last two weeks.
• Some Democrats are still critical of Trump's Defense pick, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and his national intelligence and national security adviser choices, Tulsi Gabbard and Sebastian Gorka, respectively.
• Trump has suggested the possibility of prolonging the Senate's recess to evade the Cabinet confirmation procedure.

Some Democrats are expressing support for Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, while others remain skeptical about certain cabinet selections made by President-elect Donald Trump.

"On NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning, Democratic Senator-elect from California Adam Schiff stated that he believes Marco Rubio is extremely qualified for the job he has been nominated for. Although he plans to ask questions, he acknowledged that Rubio is undeniably qualified."

The U.S. Senate is now tasked with confirming Trump's cabinet picks, which he has announced over the past two weeks for all 15 executive department heads.

Trump ally Rubio is viewed as one of the "less MAGA" options in Trump's circle, according to an NBC News source earlier this month, with another stating that he has become "more aligned with the President on tariff issues."

In the 2024 election cycle, Trump campaigned for universal tariffs, including a 60% tariff on goods from China.

Rubio is known for being tough on China and advocating for the ban of TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. He is also known for being hawkish on Iran but ambivalent about supporting Ukraine.

In an interview with Fox News' "Fox News Sunday," Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman stated that he is a "fan" of Rubio and will vote to confirm him.

Fetterman stated that he could possibly "enthusiastically vote yes" for Rep. Elise Stefanik to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and for union-friendly Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the Labor secretary.

Fetterman stated that he is considering other candidates, including his former Senate rival Dr. Oz, for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator position.

Fetterman stated that he would not pre-judge the situation and would instead engage in an open dialogue with anyone willing to participate.

Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth stated that she has a friendly relationship with Rubio and is eager to discuss his policy proposals with him.

On Sunday morning, Duckworth, a combat veteran injured in Iraq, weighed in on Trump's defense and veteran affairs picks in her interview with CNN's "State of the Union." While the senator expressed her willingness to engage in discussions with Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, who Trump has chosen to lead the Department of Veteran Affairs, she deemed Fox News host Pete Hegseth unsuitable for the role of Secretary of Defense.

Duckworth stated that Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, had never commanded a company, let alone battalions, brigades, or whole armies.

"Doug Collins could be a disruptor in the VA's electronic medical records program, as he has experience in running an organization larger than a platoon, according to Duckworth."

An investigation into a sexual assault allegation at a California hotel in 2017 has also been directed at Hegseth.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, has faced significant criticism from the Senate.

Schiff expressed concern about Gabbard's inexperience on the House Intelligence Committee and her alleged ties to the Kremlin.

Sen. Duckworth accused Gabbard of being "compromised" and expressed concern that she wouldn't pass a background check.

Duckworth stated that she believes the individual is fully supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin and fears they may not prioritize America's interests.

Some Republicans dispute the allegation that Duckworth is a Russian spy.

"On "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri stated that he believes it is disrespectful and that it is a derogatory term."

H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser during Trump's first term, believes that Sebastian Gorka, Trump's former national security adviser, is not the appropriate person to provide advice on national security for the second term.

McMaster stated on "Face the Nation" that he believes the President and those working with him will likely determine the outcome quickly.

McMaster, a former administration official, has expressed concern about some Republican officials echoing Putin's talking points.

McMaster stated that they must rid themselves of their unusual attachment to Vladimir Putin.

Trump has considered bypassing the confirmation process for his Cabinet officials by forcing the Senate into an extended recess in 2025 due to opposition from Democrats in Congress.

Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee advised that "recess appointments should be on the table" during an interview on ABC News' "This Week" on Sunday.

Hagerty stated that the tool is constitutionally available and what is needed is for Democrats to cooperate with them. However, if the resistance movement becomes as strong as it was, they need to put a team around Trump and he needs every tool at his disposal to do that.