Republican Senator Vows Trump Picks Will Face 'Lots Of Questions'

A prominent Republican US senator vowed yesterday that Congress would not give blanket approval to Donald Trump's cabinet nominees before the congressional confirmation process, as a leading Democrat challenged the qualifications of some to serve.

- Richard Luscombe

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma predicted senators will have tough questions in particular for the former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who was chosen by the president-elect as director of national security.

When asked on CNN if he will vote for all of Trump's cabinet nominations, Lankford did not answer directly, pointing to the Senate process of holding public hearings for nominees, beginning on January 3. "Everyone is going to get a fair shake," he said.

Gabbard faces questions over a number of incidents. These include spreading Russian propaganda over the war in Ukraine, prompting critics to ask if she might be a "Russian asset", and making a clandestine visit to Syria to meet the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of war crimes. Republicans criticised the trip as a shame and disgrace.