'A lot of risks': GOP Senator puts Trump on notice that nomination strategy may backfire
Donald Trump on Sunday was warned by a Republican Senator that the President-elect's current strategy for pushing his Cabinet nominations could backfire.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) gave an interview with Fox News over the weekend, during which he spoke out about Trump's pressure campaign to get his controversial nominees confirmed. Tillis said it's a risky strategy that could come back to bite the incoming president.
Tillis said the maneuvering will “run a lot of risks,” "including the possibility of backfiring on its very purpose," according to Politico's new reporting.
ALSO READ: Here's what happens when the world's richest man buys the presidency
Politico reports Tillis said, “If anything they could create a structural problem for future nominees if they overreach."
Trump has been under fire for his picks, including Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Matt Gaetz, Trump's original pick for attorney general, withdrew his name from consideration amid questions about allegations of sexual improprieties.
"Republicans will have 53 seats in the next Senate, enough to guarantee confirmation for appointees as long as Republicans stick together. Because of that, pressure campaigns are being mounted by Republicans lawmakers and third party organizations alike to get the nominees confirmed," Politico reports.
“A lot of these are third parties that are making money from the fund-raising campaigns, to put some ads in there but double digit percentages are going into their pockets,” Tillis said, according to Politico. “Here’s what I would tell them: If they really support President Trump’s nominees they should stand down and let the nominees win on their own merits and I think most of them will.”