A Democratic lawmaker fired back at a Trump nominee after he refused to respond to questions during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) had a direct response to Deputy White House budget director nominee Hal Duncan during his testimony before the Senate Budget Committee. Sen. Jeff Merkley had asked a pointed question of Duncan, which the nominee tried to dodge.
"Do you believe the 2020 election was rigged?" Merkley asked.
"I believe that Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election," Duncan said.
Merkley pushed back.
"He was certified, yes, but do you believe the election outcome was rigged?" Merkley said.
Duncan repeated his response.
"Duly noted that you're not responding to the question," Merkley said.
Kaine then pressed Duncan. The senator pointed out his concerns about his nomination.
"Saying President Biden was certified as the winner of that election is like saying today is Tuesday, June 16. It's obvious, it's a fact," Kaine said.
"But he wouldn't acknowledge that President Biden won that race," Kaine added. "There's only one of two reasons, Mr. Duncan, you have either fallen victim to the conspiracy mindset that says that election was rigged and if you're a conspiracy theorist you shouldn't be let anywhere near the position you've been nominated for. Or, President Biden won the election, but you're afraid of making an insecure president mad by acknowledging that fact."
Deputy White House budget director nominee Hal Duncan refuses to acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election, but then moments later asserts that Trump won in 2024, prompting Tim Kaine to point out that he's clearly "afraid of making an insecure president mad" pic.twitter.com/zqUoPwYwUX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 16, 2026