Some of US President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks look likely to face a fierce confirmation battle in Washington as their fitness to safeguard the rule of law, national security and public health comes under scrutiny. US Vice-President-elect JD Vance, an Ohio senator, is introducing the contenders to his colleagues on Capitol Hill this week as the incoming Trump administration seeks to smooth the path of its transition. But while the prospective appointees could face pushback in the Senate, they have received a largely positive reception so far from Republican voters contacted by the BBC. Virtually all of them approved of his cabinet picks, hailing them as much-needed disruptors to what they see as a corrupt establishment. "It just scares the pants off the establishment people because most of the people in Congress are bought and corrupt," David Pautsch, a Trump supporter from Davenport, Iowa, told the BBC. "These picks are going to upset the apple cart." "They're all wonderful," he added. Some of Trump's cabinet picks, such as Marco Rubio, nominated to be US secretary of state, have won praise from both sides of the aisle. But a handful of others have been the subject of a barrage of negative headlines in recent weeks. Reports alleged that Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice for defense secretary, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to stay quiet so he would not risk losing his job. Hegseth, a Fox News host, denies any wrongdoing and maintains the sexual encounter was consensual. Robert F Kennedy, Trump's pick for US health secretary, has alarmed the pharmaceutical industry and America's medical community with his vaccine skepticism, although his criticism of processed foods has drawn support from many top doctors. Allies of Matt Gaetz, Trump's choice to be US attorney general, are meanwhile battling the release of a congressional ethics report on claims – which he denies – that he had once sex with an underage girl. The Department of Justice – which Gaetz, 42, would lead if confirmed – investigated the matter last year and declined to press charges. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence, has been accused by critics of casting doubt on the very spy agencies she would oversee, while her allies say attempts to portray the military veteran as a Kremlin asset amount to a smear. An opinion poll this week by Echelon Insights found that all of Trump's cabinet picks – apart from Gaetz – have a slight edge in net favourability from members of the American public who participated in the survey. But voter reaction mirrors sentiments about Trump himself and not all Republicans approve of his selections. Michele Allen, a self-described "Never Trumper" from Arizona, told the BBC she is "flabbergasted" by the line-up. "It's a good-old-boys' club and [Trump's] appointing people to positions where they're going to hurt a lot of people by getting their personal vendettas across," Allen says. The 39-year-old, who works in healthcare, says she is "quite disgusted" by RFK Jr's pick as health secretary. — BBC
