Nashville Standard

United States Senator Bill Hagerty recently appeared on Newsmax to discuss President Donald Trump's initial actions in office, focusing on executive orders and cabinet confirmations. Hagerty, a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees, shared his perspective on the political atmosphere in Washington.

Hagerty described the current mood as "absolutely uplifting," expressing relief that what he termed a "four-year experiment in Marxism" had concluded. He emphasized Trump's commitment to restoring American exceptionalism and detailed plans for cabinet confirmations. "I’ll tell you this later this afternoon—I’m on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—we’re going to meet as a group, and we’re going to vote [Senator] Marco Rubio out of that committee to be our next Secretary of State," he stated. Hagerty also mentioned John Ratcliffe's nomination for CIA Director, highlighting national security concerns attributed to the previous administration.

Reflecting on Trump's influence, Hagerty noted changes occurring even before Trump officially assumed office. He pointed to developments such as peace efforts in the Middle East and shifts in European energy policies. According to Hagerty, these changes are contributing to positive economic projections for 2025. "You’ve seen peace breaking out in the Middle East... You see that [the European Union is] now saying that they’re going to start buying U.S. LNG and displace Russian LNG," he remarked.

Comparing Trump's two terms, Hagerty acknowledged differences due to experience gained during his first term and challenges faced under the Biden administration. He expressed confidence in Trump's ability to address these issues swiftly. "He’s coming back strong because he knows he’s got four years to get this done," said Hagerty.

Hagerty also commented on the opposition from Democrats, suggesting it has weakened significantly since 2016. He recalled resistance faced during Trump's initial campaign but claimed that opposition has diminished over time. The upcoming votes on Rubio and Ratcliffe were framed as a test for Democratic cooperation: "Tonight, we have a chance to see what my Democrat colleagues in the Senate will do."