Trump sticks to appointment of 'qualification controversy' ministerial candidate

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to push ahead with the nomination of people who are controversial about their qualifications, including Matt Gates, the nominee for justice secretary.

The New York Times reported on the 19th local time that Trump acknowledged that the confirmation of Gates' nominee was more likely to be rejected in a recent private conversation, but showed no signs of withdrawing the nomination.

The New York Times says Trump is calling Republican senators who have the power to confirm the attorney general to press for Gates' support.

Even if Gates' confirmation is rejected, the Senate's eye level on ministerial candidates will be lowered, making it easier for other controversial figures to be confirmed.

Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a controversial vaccine conspiracy theorist, while Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is suspected of sexual violence.

National Intelligence Director-designate Tulsi Gabbard is also criticized for being inappropriate, given that she has no experience in intelligence-related work, along with her track record of blaming Russia for its invasion of Ukraine on the United States and NATO.

The New York Times said that before 2024, those four figures, including Gates, would have had little chance of being confirmed by the Republican-majority Senate.