WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined “Morning Joe” on MSNBC this morning and discussed President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments and their upcoming confirmation hearings.
Transcript from Sen. Coons’ interview:
“It's somewhat of a mixed bag, his transition process and the folks that he's nominated so far. Some of them are strikingly unqualified to run major federal agencies. Some of them like General Mattis have impressive long, deep records of service. So it's my hope ultimately after the confirmation process, we'll end up with a Trump Administration, with a Trump cabinet, that is broadly representative of our country and includes a lot of folks with the kinds of strengths and skills that a General Mattis will bring to the job of Secretary of Defense if he's confirmed.”
“I don't know, for example, Governor Haley of South Carolina, but her previous experience in foreign policy I think is somewhat limited. Dr. Ben Carson, who’s been nominated to run the Housing agency, which is a nearly I think 36 billion dollar federal agency -- he's recognized as a very talented neurosurgeon, but just because you live in a house doesn't mean you're qualified to be the Secretary of Housing for all of the country. I have a brain, but that doesn't qualify me to be a brain surgeon, but I do think we'll have some questions about whether or not some of these folks who have been nominated really have the depth and qualifications.”