An intense battle has erupted among Republicans over Elbridge Colby, President Trump’s pick for Defense Undersecretary for Policy.
Colby’s views on defense have raised concerns within the GOP, particularly his stance on shifting focus away from the Middle East and towards countering China. These positions have led some Republicans to question whether Colby can get confirmed by the Senate.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk criticized the opposition to Colby, specifically calling out Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a leading figure in the GOP and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“The effort to undermine President Trump continues in the US Senate. @SenTomCotton is working behind the scenes to stop Trump’s pick, Elbridge Colby, from getting confirmed at DOD,” Kirk wrote in a post on X.
Kirk went on to praise Colby, calling him “one of the most important pieces to stop the Bush/Cheney cabal at DOD” and questioned why Cotton was opposed to the nominee.
Elon Musk, a Trump ally, echoed Kirk’s sentiments, asking in a response, “Why the opposition to Bridge? What does he think Bridge will do?”
But not all conservatives are backing Colby. Fox News’s Mark Levin disagreed with Kirk, offering strong criticism of Colby’s views.
“Sorry Charlie,” Levin posted. “It is the unequivocal position of President Trump and every sane person that Iran must not get nukes. If this guy has no problem with it, he’s the problem, not Cotton. He’s out of sync, not Cotton. He’s undermining national security, not Cotton.”
Colby has faced backlash from some right-wing figures for suggesting that a nuclear-armed Iran could be contained, which appears to downplay the significance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons—an issue many Republicans consider a red line.
In another post, Levin expressed hope that Colby has changed his views on the matter.
On the other side, Vice President Vance defended Colby, pointing to his consistency in foreign policy over the past two decades. Vance noted that Colby was critical of the Iraq War, a stance that made him unpopular in conservative circles in the 2000s.
Despite Vance’s defense, Colby’s views have raised serious concerns in the Senate. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, acknowledged that many senators are worried about Colby’s positions.
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also weighed in, expressing concern over Colby’s stance on U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. In a letter to Wicker and Senator Jack Reed (R.I.), the group urged senators to press Colby on his views, particularly regarding reducing military presence in the region.
With Colby’s confirmation hearing yet to be scheduled, the fight over his nomination continues to divide Republicans, and it remains unclear whether he will secure the votes needed to be confirmed.
