The aftermath of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, which claimed 14 lives and injured dozens more, has been exploited by Senate Republicans to accelerate the confirmation process for Donald Trump’s controversial cabinet nominees. This push, however, ignores the fact that the attacker, a US citizen born and raised in Texas, undermines their central argument linking the incident to border security.
Several Republican senators appeared on Sunday political talk shows to advocate for the swift approval of nominees facing stiff opposition. These include Kash Patel (FBI director), Pete Hegseth (defense secretary), and Tulsi Gabbard (director of national intelligence). They argued that any delay jeopardizes national security. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Trump loyalist, urged immediate confirmation, declaring the nation “under attack” and citing the “broken border” as a “national security nightmare.” He falsely claimed that an open border allows terrorists to enter the country.
This unfounded connection between the New Orleans attack and border security was echoed by Trump and other top Republicans in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Representative Mike Johnson, for example, linked the attack to “terrorism” and an “open border.” However, the attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was a 42-year-old US citizen and army veteran who lived in Texas and drove a short distance to carry out the attack. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explicitly refuted this connection, stating the attacker was a US citizen who served in the US armed forces.
The renewed effort to confirm Trump’s nominees is particularly focused on Patel, whose lack of FBI experience and controversial statements about dismantling the FBI have drawn criticism. Senator Jim Banks defended Patel, accusing the FBI of prioritizing left-leaning political causes over counterterrorism efforts. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune initially linked the attack to the need for rapid confirmations, he later adopted a more cautious approach, stating his intention to ensure a fair confirmation process for all nominees, including addressing concerns about Patel’s stated plans to target 60 political opponents. These concerns also extend to other nominees. Hegseth faces sexual misconduct allegations, and Gabbard has faced criticism for her perceived sympathy towards Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad. Further, Matt Gaetz, initially nominated for Attorney General, withdrew his candidacy following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Trump’s prioritization of a loyalist cabinet underscores his desire for swift confirmations, regardless of the controversies surrounding his choices. The incident in New Orleans has provided a convenient, yet unfounded, pretext to accelerate this process.