Trump urges GOP to get 'tough' on nominations, warns Dems working to stall them

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Republicans to stand firm on confirming his cabinet nominations, warning that Democrats in the upper chamber were working to thwart their confirmation and obstruct his agenda.

The new Congress is set to convene at the start of the year, weeks ahead of Trump's inauguration. During that time, lawmakers will vet his Cabinet nominations.

"We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees," Trump posted on Truth Social. "They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them to do that. We have a Country to run, and many big problems to solve, mostly created by Democrats. REPUBLICANS, BE SMART AND TOUGH!!!"

Trump's remarks come as some Republicans have expressed concerns over some of his key nominees, most notably Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Internal Republican opposition and Democratic intransigence, moreover, already succeeded in thwarting the nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

The former Florida congressman withdrew from consideration shortly after his nomination.