Nikki Haley, the former United Nations Ambassador, voiced strong objections to President-elect Trump’s decision to include former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his Cabinet.
On her SiriusXM show, Nikki Haley Live, she sharply criticized both nominations. Haley condemned Gabbard’s remarks regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and her support for pardoning Edward Snowden, who exposed U.S. intelligence.
“After Russia invaded Ukraine, Tulsi Gabbard actually blamed NATO, the Western alliance tasked with countering Russia,” Haley remarked. “She blamed NATO for the Ukrainian attack, with both Russia and China amplifying her viewpoints on their state-run media.”
Nikki Haley calls for thorough Senate scrutiny of Kennedy’s potential Cabinet confirmation
She pointed out that Gabbard had not revised her views on foreign policy and warned that her rhetoric could be detrimental if she were to lead the nation’s intelligence operations. “She’s defended Russia, Syria, Iran, and China—without retracting any of those positions,” Haley continued. “She has never taken back any of these views. This is not the right fit for someone sympathetic to Russia, Iran,
Syria, or China, especially in a role where national security threats must be assessed.” Concerning Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Haley expressed doubt over his qualifications for overseeing the Department of Health and Human Services, given his lack of healthcare experience.
“He’s a liberal Democrat, an environmental attorney, and a trial lawyer—now set to manage a quarter of the federal budget, despite having no background in healthcare,” Haley said.
While she acknowledged that some people might admire Kennedy for challenging food and vaccine safety, she emphasized that his lack of experience made him an uncertain choice to head such a critical agency. “We don’t know what decisions he might make behind closed doors,” she added.
Haley recommended Kennedy be appointed as a health adviser instead and urged the Senate to thoroughly question him before considering his confirmation. In response, Trump has suggested using recess appointments for his Cabinet members, should Senate confirmations prove difficult.
Although his Cabinet selections have sparked serious debate, Trump has retained the backing of House Speaker Mike Johnson and arranged private meetings for the candidates with senators, accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance.
