‘Lives depend on it’: Republicans push for quick Trump confirmation after New Orleans attack
Senate Republicans are calling for expedited confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration appointments, especially those for key national security positions, following the New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans where a suspected terrorist drove his car into a large crowd, killing more than a dozen people.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by the senseless terrorist attack in New Orleans,” incoming Senate Republican leader John Thune, RS.D., said on X.
“With reports of ISIS inspiration, the American people expect clear answers from the administration,” Thune said. “The threat posed by ISIS will outlast this administration, and this is a clear example of why the Senate must establish President Trump’s national security team as soon as possible.”
The FBI said at least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in the holiday attack. Israel revealed that two of its citizens were among the injured. The names of the victims cannot be released until autopsies are completed and families are notified, New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna.
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From left: Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard (Reuters)
Senate Republicans were already eager to quickly push through Trump’s picks, including Kash Patel for FBI director, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary. But with the latest attack and another in development across the country, many lawmakers have indicated that a speedy confirmation process is even more important.
New Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote on X, “The US Senate must confirm President Trump’s national security team as soon as possible. Lives depend on it.”
Thune will be sworn in as Senate Majority Leader on Friday. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)
“I will work to ensure that President Trump has all the tools at his disposal, including a fully cleared national security and intelligence team as soon as possible to investigate these attacks and make our country safe again,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. , in response to the attack.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., echoed that sentiment in her own statement, saying, “We must work nonstop to get President Trump’s national security team in place without delay.”
Several other Republicans have made similar calls for Trump’s national security picks to be prioritized and confirmed without hesitation.
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New Orleans police and federal agents are investigating an alleged terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. (Chris Granger/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.expressed frustration that the FBI was apparently lagging behind on intelligence related to the New Orleans attack suspect.
“The fact that a reporter has better information than the FBI tells us everything we need to know. The FBI has failed in its core mission,” the senator wrote on X in response to a report that New York Post reporters arrived at the suspect’s home before the agency.
“America needs a fearless fighter like… [Patel] at the FBI,” Blackburn continued.
Blackburn is a major supporter of Trump’s choice of Kash Patel for FBI director. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images/File)
Two sources in the FBI’s conversation with members of the House and Senate on Thursday told Fox News that the FBI claimed they had no intelligence on suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar before the attack.
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The FBI told lawmakers that Jabbar was “inspired” by ISIS, but added that they had no evidence yet that the terrorist group was directing him.
