President-elect Donald Trump might only have three of his Cabinet nominees cleared by the Senate when he takes the oath of office Friday, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is warning.
"It's safe to say the Democrats are in a bad mood," the Kentucky Republican told USA Today. "You can see that in the way the confirmations process is going on in the Senate. We are getting off to kind of a rough start."
McConnell told the outlet at the current rate, the Senate is on track to confirm only three of Trump's Cabinet officials immediately after he takes the oath of office, compared to seven for President Barack Obama in 2009.
"I remember, frankly, being appalled at some of Barack Obama's appointments, but my attitude was he won the election, and that is what comes with winning the election,” McConnell told USA Today.
According to The Hill, Democrats suggested after a closed-door lunch Wednesday they could let some of Trump's national security picks clear the Senate quickly after the inauguration.
And Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary nominee John Kelly, and CIA nominee, Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo, aren't top targets for Democratic opposition, The Hill reported.
McConnell, however, did not name which three he predicts will get cleared Friday.
In addition to Trump's national security picks, Elaine Chao and Ben Carson, Trump's picks to lead the Transportation Department and the Housing and Urban Development Department respectively, also had hearings last week and are considered less controversial, The Hill reported.
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