RFK JR, Tulsi Gabbard clarifies the first vote to confirm the Senate

Robert F. Kennedy Junior and Tulsi Gabbard have approved a significant hurdle on the path of confirmation of the Senate for cabinet roles that US President Donald Trump nominated him to take him.

Kennedy was tapped as the next US Health Secretary, while Gabard was selected to serve as the director of the National Intelligence. Both are considered controversial pics and were uncertain that they would have enough support for full Senate vote.

However, on Tuesday, Kennedy was approved in 14–13 votes by the Senate Finance Committee which was divided with party lines. Only Republican voted in his favor.

Meanwhile, Gabbard survived 9–8 votes before the Senate Intelligence Committee – which also divided along with party lines.

Both of his nominations will now go to one vote before the full American Senate, which control the Republican 53-47.

During the confirmation process, Kennedy received some opposition from MPs from both sides due to his suspicion of vaccines. Some also questioned whether he was an enough expert on health matters, including American public health infrastructure and health care programs to play the role.

However, he heard his hearing, however, insisted that he was not resisting vaccines – nor a conspiracy theorist – but only supports more stringent safety tests.

Nevertheless, the senators often reduced their previous comments, including a podcast appearance, where he said: “There is no vaccine that is safe and effective.”

Senator Berney Sanders, an independent who held and works with Democrats, praised Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” slogan. But later the senator showed pictures of baby clothes printed with anti-vaccine messages sold by the health protection of children, an organization nominated recently.

Kennedy replied that he no longer monitored the group.

Although Kennedy’s testimony last week did not win any democrats in his favor, he managed to win the important support of Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidi.

A doctor, Cassidi, expressed doubts about Trump’s nominee, but announced that he would support him after “serious commitments” by Kennedy and the White House. It clears the way for a full Senate vote.

Kennedy Robert F is Kennedy’s son and President John F. Kennedy’s nephew. He initially scored a run for the nomination of the Democratic President in 2024, but later made an independent bid before leaving and supporting Trump.

The US political scone made his name as an environmental counsel as an environmental counsel before criticizing US health care, including food security and anti -vermal advocacy in recent years.

As a health secretary, Kennedy will be in charge of the Center for Vishal agencies such as Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institute of Health (NIH) and Medicare and Medicade Services. ,

Kennedy has suggested that he would set fire to many of the people working for these federal agencies, and Trump has said that he would take his nominated comprehensive carriage to improve American food and health care systems.

Gabard also faced opposition for some previous controversial positions, with his decision to meet and defend with former Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad in 2017 as well as a forgiveness for National Security Agency Whistlebloor Edward Snowden There was also a previous push to do.

At one point, Gabbard was pressed by both Republican and Democratic Senators whether she classifies Snowden – who moved to Russia to avoid American law enforcement – as a “traitor”. He refused to answer directly, just saying that he “broke the law”.

He said that he had highlighted “illegal and unconstitutional programs” that improved, but said that it would work to block future illegal leaks and revelations.

Many senators also mentioned that Gabbard had defended Russia’s attack on Ukraine at the beginning of the war. Democratic senator Michael Bennett accused Gabbard of agreeing to agree that a “totalitarian state” “was appropriate to rolish the peaceful border of Ukraine”.

Nevertheless, the Republican Senator who was initially suspected of Gabbard, eventually relate behind him.

On Monday, Men’s Senator Susan Colins said Gabard had addressed his concerns. Indiana Senator Tod Young announced a day later that he would return to Gabard even after gaining his commitment to “pursue our national security”.

Gabbard is a former Congress and a military veteran from Hawaii who served with a medical unit in Iraq.

She was earlier a member of the Democratic Party, and served in the Congress, and made the government -run healthcare champion. In 2020, she ran to nominate the Democratic presidential president, and later left out and supported Joe Biden.

Gabbard released the Democratic Party in 2022, criticizing him to be “warmongars” run by “cowardly vokes”. She became an independent in 2024 before becoming a Republican and supporting Trump’s President’s Bid.

If confirmed by the full Senate, it will manage a budget of more than $ 70BN (£ 55BN) and will oversee 18 intelligence agencies.