Congressional Democrats prepared to do 'whatever it takes' in response to Trump Cabinet picks: Padilla

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said Saturday that congressional Democrats are prepared to do “whatever it takes” in response to President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks.

“The incoming Senate majority leader, John Thune, has said all options are on the table to get Trump the team he wants as quickly as possible, including, perhaps, recess appointment,” Rev. Al Sharpton asked Padilla on MSNBC's “PoliticsNation.” “That would sidestep the confirmation process. What are Democrats prepared to do in response?”

“What are Democrats prepared to do in response? Whatever it takes, not just to uphold the Constitution of the United States, but you know … the interest of the people here,” Padilla said in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

“Donald Trump is way beyond making a mockery of what an incoming president should be [doing,] regardless of who’s in the majority of Congress,” Padilla said.

"These are people who are far from being qualified to be in the position that Donald Trump wants them in," he later added.

President Trump recently announced top officials to serve in his administration including Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general, sparking backlash from congressional Democrats.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), who served in the Army, called the choice of Hegseth to lead the Defense Department “not a serious pick.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said “we would be talking about going back to the, what, the 1700s, 1800s,” if Kennedy leads HHS.

“I was originally going to hold off on commenting on nominations at this stage but I cannot stay quiet here,” Senator-elect Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said in a Wednesday post on X. “I don’t need a confirmation hearing to know that Matt Gaetz is not qualified for Attorney General. I will not support his confirmation.” 

The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team and Thune’s office for comment.