Because of his prior support for abortion, Mike Pence’s organization is putting pressure on Republican senators to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as secretary of health and human services. Kennedy has not entirely adopted Pence’s group’s position that the HHS Secretary must be totally dedicated to safeguarding the unborn.

Although many Republican senators have endorsed him, Kennedy, a Democrat who ran for president, has come under fire for his shifting abortion views. Kennedy has assured Republicans that he will adopt the Trump administration’s anti-abortion stance.

Vice President JD Vance has emphasized that the president has the authority to select his Cabinet and cautioned Republican senators against blocking Trump’s nominees due to policy differences. Vance thinks Kennedy and all of Trump’s contentious choices will eventually be confirmed.

Vance also highlighted Trump’s diverse 2024 coalition and urged Republicans to support the broader coalition to maintain momentum for the administration’s first year.