WATCH: Speaker Johnson Says Trump Cabinet Nominees Will Be ‘Disruptors’ and ‘Shake Up the Status Quo’
House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees will be “disruptors” and “shake up the status quo” in Washington, D.C.
Johnson made the comments during Sunday’s episode of CNN’s State of the Union.
“This is what I’ll say about the nominees that the President has put forward — is that they are persons who will shake up the status quo,” Johnson said.
The Speaker continued, “And I think what the American people have believed, and what they delivered with the mandate in this election, is the demand that we shake up the status quo. It’s not working for the American people. So to use the term in the opening about how these are disruptors — they are, I think that’s by design.”
.@SpeakerJohnson on President Trump’s cabinet nominees: “They are persons who will shake up the status quo … You can’t have status quo appointments in a moment like this.” pic.twitter.com/m2r84E76bw
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 17, 2024
“These agencies need reform, and I think the vast majority of American people understand that you can’t have status quo appointments in a moment like this,” Johnson said. “I’m really excited about the days ahead. I think the America First policies will deliver the American people.”
Trump’s nominees include Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
CNN reports:
The outcome of the coming showdown will depend on whether Republican senators are willing to abrogate their own power to vet nominees and will cave under the furious political pressure that is certain to be trained on them by the “Make America Great Again” movement. The issue represents the first political crisis to confront South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who will take over as Republican Senate majority leader next year. And even if senators take a stand over one or two nominees they view as unqualified, it’s unlikely they will deal a defeat to the new president by throwing out all of the most provocative picks, meaning that some of them are almost certain to take jobs atop key government departments.
The storm over Trump’s picks is deepening as the president-elect is working to complete his future governing team with positions such as treasury secretary and US trade representative — who will be critical to carrying out his populist trade and economic policies — still outstanding.
