WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate is pressing ahead on President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of State, with a procedural vote likely to trigger an extended debate over the president’s executive order banning travel from specific Muslim-majority countries and U.S. policy toward Russia.
Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick to be the nation’s chief diplomat, needs the backing of just 51 senators on Monday evening to put his nomination on track for confirmation later this week in the Republican-led chamber.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wants a delay in the vote until Tillerson answers for Trump’s travel ban order, a postponement that’s unlikely with Republicans in the majority.
Trump’s order bars individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days. Trump has repeatedly said that the move is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and American interests. But recent domestic acts of deadly extremist violence have been carried out either by U.S. citizens or by individuals whose families weren’t from the nations singled out.
Although many Democrats – including Schumer – will oppose Tillerson, they’ll need at least several Republicans to join them to derail the nomination. That appeared unlikely, even after two of the Senate’s leading GOP voices on national security voiced concern over Trump’s desire for a better relationship with Moscow.