President Donald Trump is on track to have all of his Cabinet nominees confirmed despite a slim Republican majority in the Senate, after three of the most controversial picks have now taken office.
[RELATED: Susan Collins Says She is a ‘No’ on Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth…]
Throughout the confirmation process, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) consistently opposed President Trump’s most controversial nominees, voting against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, while Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) took a more nuanced approach.
Sen. King, who caucuses with Democrats despite his independent label, was always expected to side with Democrats in opposing President Trump’s controversial picks. He accused Hegseth of supporting torture, insinuated that Gabbard could be compromised by foreign threats, and called Kennedy a “danger.”
“This man is not only unqualified, he’s anti-qualified, he’s a danger,” said King of Kennedy.
While King was considered a safe “no” vote, Senator Collins became a central figure in discussions about the nominees’ chances of confirmation.
Although she is a Republican, Collins has on occasion sided with Democrats and is widely considered to be a centrist who has publicly opposed Trump, even saying last spring that she would not vote for him.
Collins appeared to be confirming conservatives’ worst fears when she, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), voted with Democrats against Hegseth.
“While I appreciate his courageous military service and his ongoing commitment to our servicemembers and their families, I am concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job,” said Collins, in a lengthy X post about her decision.
She also expressed concerns about Hegseth’s criticism of women being allowed to serve in combat roles and his skepticism regarding burdensome rules of engagement that he believes impede the nation’s warfighting ability.
The three Republicans opposing Hegseth left the Senate with a tie, requiring Vice President J.D. Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote.
Collins was also initially critical of Gabbard, seeking clarification about the former Hawaii congresswoman’s position on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows government surveillance of foreign nationals that has been known to also ensnare American citizens.
“Her answers to the written questions were very hedged on it. I know there’s been a lot of reporting that she’s changed her position. That’s not how I read her answers. I read them as, ‘I’ll take a look at the reforms and see if they meet my concerns,” said Collins.
Due to her criticism and opposition to Hegseth, Collins surprised many when she announced that she would be voting to confirm Gabbard.
“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, however, has become far larger than it was designed to be, and Ms. Gabbard shares my vision of returning the agency to its intended size,” said Collins.
Sen. McConnell was, in the end, the only Republican to oppose Gabbard’s nomination.
Collins also voted in favor of Kennedy, ending weeks of suspense with a statement to The Maine Wire.
[RELATED: Susan Collins Says She Will Vote to Confirm RFK Jr as HHS Secretary…]
“After extensive public and private questioning and a thorough examination of his nomination, I will support Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” said Collins.
She told The Maine Wire that Kennedy had assuaged some of her concerns about his perspectives on vaccines and convinced her to support him.
Though a cynical interpretation of Collins’ decision to support Gabbard and Kennedy would suggest that she supported the nominees primarily to avoid alienating the Republican base, that may not be the case.
Collins, Maine’s senior U.S. senator, originally comes from northern Maine, which tends to be more supportive of Trump, but overall her constituents are not predominantly MAGA Republicans. Predictably, anti-Trump voters have criticized her for supporting Gabbard and Kennedy this week.
With the most controversial nominees already confirmed, Collins has ultimately supported every nominee except Hegseth.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="35407 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=35407">35 Comments
Susan Collins voted to IMPEACH Donald Trump .
I will never vote for Susan Collins again , under ANY circumstances
The useless crony capitalist, King, is desperately trying to remain relevant.
In this short video clip RFK, Jr. explains how Fauci pushed the hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients with Remdesivir which causes kidney failure. That exactly what happened to my wife nearly four years ago.
https://video.spreely.com/watch/shocking-rfk-jr-039-fauci-knew-that-remdesivir-would-kill-you-039_DKcVwSTfNOnqEw8.html
Kennedy is exactly the person needed at HHS and fortunately he was confirmed. Screw Angus King!
Cannot wait for these two to be audited.
King maybe you can speak English/Chines so we know what the Turn pike driver was up to?
He is defiantly not from Maine.
I will encourage everyone not to vote for these people again and to support people to replace them.
Ayuh,….. Both of these nitwits need to be put out to pasture,…..
Please, Please. would the republican party primary these two, ‘n give us somebody else to vote for,…..
Both of these criminal fossils need to be voted out…they care nothing about the people of Maine. How did they both become so wealthy? Gross.
If Collins was as not up for re-election…
Anyone that believes Anus is an independent I’ve got a bridge to sell ya. Anus just doesn’t have the guts to admit he is a demoKKKrat. Queen RINO Collins is just looking to build her reputation as a compromising deal making (B)witch. I predict a large turnout for Micky Mouse if Czarina Mills runs against Queen RINO.
Bingo
20 minutes ago
If Collins was as not up for re-election…
YET. And she is counting on short memories and her next opponent being worse than Bellows (like a sick cow). Hard to say I should have voted for the commie last time but that’s what the (B)witch is counting on.
We need more recent pictures of the grifters.
“Independent” my ass, he’s a democrat, always has been and we all know it. As for Collins, hope she don’t run again, it will force me to vote for a democrat for the first time in my life! At least voting for a democrat, I’ll know what I’m getting.
A. King -The INDEPENDENT liar
He has NOT said a word about Dose.
How much has he gotten?
Which waste of my tax dollars is he the rout of?
Not he is not saying a word.
You know what they say about those that protest the loudest….. maybe they have something to hide…
I view Susan Collins as a perfect example of the need for term limits.
they are both traitors. career puppet politicians getting rich from selling out maine and the country…. angus kings office silenced his politcal opponents last election cycle….
King is a carbetbagger from Virginia who is a democrat posing as an independent.
Never vote for a Demo/Socialist,RINO,or fake Independent again.
Hard to choose which one is a bigger P.O.S.
What Musk has done by showing were the money is going is that our elected rep DO NOT KNOW were the tax dollars are going. You know that some of the projects would not be approved by a particular office holder. I do not believe Sue would approve of sex changes in Guatemala, just not her. So I know the four brit bulbs do not know any details, but rather the swamp folks dictates were our dollars go. The do not do their jobs. They just drink the wine.
One is a RINO POS
The other IS rhino shit!
King got rich on shady windmill deals he pushed through. Collins voted to impeach Trump. I did not vote for either of them in the last election and will not do so in the future. Both are a disgrace and embarrassment to the state of Maine
Collins has been a part of every Military Adventure since her arrival in the Senate she was taught well by “China ” Billy Cohen . Collins needs to be investigated for her corrupt Campaign Contributions ( Sam Bankman Fried ).Voted to confirm a Nigger Woman for the Supreme Court that wouldn’t or Couldn’t identify a Woman .
Didn’t that old bat die 17nyrs ago? She sure the hell looks like it.
They are both democrats, she can say she’s rep, and he, Ind, but we all know they are both democrats!
unfortunately Collins is the closest Maine will get to a Republican senator
With an Elon Disciple who’s gonna primary her. I predict its goona be the most expensive campaign in the history of Maine
Just think both Senators choose illegals over citizens as does our two Reps.
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https://www.unz.com/jcook/trump-didnt-invent-the-gaza-ethnic-cleansing-plan-its-been-us-policy-since-2007/
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Both senators need to be primaried! Senator Collins joined the democrats to overthrow the sitting President, Pres.Trump during his first term. That’s why they created the “fedsurrection” on Jan 6, 2021 to hide the fact that (democrats & RINO’s) were involved in the overthrow! Yes, that’s treason! Angus King was a lousy governor before he ran for the senate. During his term he stole the retirement fund for teachers. How do I know this? My mother, a teacher, couldn’t retire because there were no funds in the teacher’s retirement account! She had to wait until they built the fund back up. Neither of these senators are working for Maine people and need to be replaced. According to lawyersclubindia,com, Senator Collins is worth $40 million. Her yearly salary is $174,000. Between Dec. 2023 and Dec. 2024, she earned more than Nancy Pelosi on her stock trading. How does that happen? Senator King is worth between $4,393,084 and $13,170,000. He co-founded Northeast Energy Management, Inc., a company that focused on energy conservation projects. He later sold the company, reaping substantial profits.
They both voted for the crazy guy in a dress, nuff said. Neither has a leg to stand on when it comes to Trumps picks.
Brady, I don’t care how much you hate someone, calling someone, even someone as annoying as Ketanji Brown Jackson, is fricking stupid. Only scumbags say that kind of crap. This is the reason people on the left think Republicans are racist. Don’t be a DA.
Both Collins and King need to go! I can’t believe Collins is running again,
Millions in out of state money spent, that should tell any Mainer where her loyalty is. Her vote to impeach Trump on nothing charged tells all. C’mon man!
Do a story on Katie Spencer from Greely Highschool who’s a male pretending to be female. He’s the girls state champ now!