But facing reelection in two years in a conservative state, Rounds is the target of Trump allies trying to get him to fall in line on those picks.
In a chamber where lawmakers often pride themselves on their independence, Republican senators insist that they aren’t feeling the outside pressure.
Most of Trump’s selections don’t currently appear in serious danger of losing GOP support, although many senators aren’t officially backing Trump’s picks ahead of formal nominations and confirmation hearings.
For their part, several Republican senators told CNN this week they don’t believe that an outside pressure campaign will influence their votes.
The Maine Republican told reporters after the meeting she questioned him on issues related to allegations of heavy drinking and sexual misconduct.
Persons:
CNN — Sen, Mike Rounds, Donald Trump, Rounds, doesn’t, Pete Hegseth, “, ” Rounds, Sen, Joni Ernst of, MAGA, don’t, aren’t, Trump’s, Samuel Corum, “ We’re, Trump, –, Matt Gaetz –, Republicans –, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, Tulsi, ”, we’ve, “ Gaetz, Maine Sen, Susan Collins –, Hegseth, I’ve, John McCain tanking, Thom Tillis, —, Lisa Murkowski, Collins, it’ll, Don’t, ” Murkowski, Ernst, he’s, Ernst’s, Defense Department . Sen, Joni Ernst, Vivek Ramaswamy, Andrew Harnik, Charlie Kirk, Hegseth’s, Brenna Bird, Breitbart, it’s, ” Bird, ” Trump, ” “, she’d, ” Collins, ” It’s, Texas Sen, John Cornyn –, ” Cornyn, Veronica Stracqualursi, David Wright, Danya Gainor
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Locations:
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