In hearings, Tulsi Gabbard failed to justify Trump’s Iran war, while Republicans pressed Markwayne Mullin on past conduct during his Homeland Security secretary confirmation, highlighting intraparty tensions.
Republican Senator James Lankford indicated that Congress will thoroughly scrutinize Donald Trump's controversial cabinet picks, including Tulsi Gabbard for national security director, amid concerns over her past actions and comments. Lankford emphasized the importance of public hearings and private discussions to assess nominees, while Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth criticized the qualifications of nominees like Pete Hegseth and Gabbard. The scrutiny follows the withdrawal of Trump's initial attorney general pick, Matt Gaetz, due to sexual misconduct allegations.