In January, one week before the President's inauguration a fierce fight erupted in the Senate between Republicans and Democrats over the confirmation of the key figures for President Trump's cabinet. These four powerful men lead the Trump administration's policy on Russia, the Middle East, Iran and North Korea, on human rights worldwide, on the Paris Climate control agreement, as well as on the civil rights and the health of millions of Americans. They are: Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon/Mobil, nominee for Secretary of State responsible for America's foreign policy; Jeff Sessions, a leading campaigner for the President and now his chief law officer; Dr Tom Price, a strident critic of Obamacare and nominee for Health Secretary; and Scott Pruitt, a climate change sceptic nominated as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. In front of four separate Senate committees the nominees were subjected to tough and relentless cross-examination. They were questioned forensically about their ethics, beliefs and political philosophies. Each of them had to fend off accusations ranging from corruption to deceit or racism.These gripping and dramatic verbatim Senate sessions probed their fitness for office, and give us a vital insight into the future policies and direction of a Trump Presidency.
