Top Republicans are getting itchy, expecting a shakeup in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, fearing it could drag on to the midterms.
Trump has faced mounting pressure to shake up his embattled Cabinet, and senior Republicans are divided over whether the president should make moves now or wait until after Election Day, Semafor reported Wednesday.
“Folks are going to want to know that the team’s going to stay together through the election,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) told the outlet. “We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting close. You don’t want to be trying to hire people to train them in, going into an election. All your attention needs to be on the election.”
Several high-profile advisers have become embroiled in scandals.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is tangled up in controversy over her alleged romantic relationship with Corey Lewandowski, while Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces a probe into her conduct in office. Jet-setting FBI Director Kash Patel is now dealing with fallout from his beer-soaked celebration with the U.S. men’s hockey team.
For now, Trump appears keen on keeping his team intact through November.
“I just don’t think he’s going to do that before the election. I just think it’s perceived as too disruptive,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
Even so, one insider suggested Noem and Chavez-DeRemer are prime candidates for the chopping block if Trump decides to act.
“He looks at it so differently than the rest of us … the biggest convincing factor for him would probably be, ‘Sir, we still are confident about the Senate, but if our margins go down even more, you’re going to have a very difficult time confirming who you want,’” the person said. “The president’s instincts here are probably not to, but we’ve always wanted Kristi to go.”
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