While many of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet choices have faced significant backlash, his nominee for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, seems to have an easier route to confirmation, according to YSL News.

Bessent, a hedge fund manager and former chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management until 2015, has only met a handful of lawmakers since Trump’s announcement last month. However, Republicans are not concerned, given their 53-47 majority in the Senate next year.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., mentioned that Bessent seems to have a “very clear path” toward being confirmed.

“I had a productive meeting with him. I wasn’t very familiar with him initially,” stated Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is part of the Senate Finance Committee that usually conducts hearings for treasury secretaries.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also part of the Finance Committee, expressed he has “no concerns about him.”

“I look forward to speaking with him,” Cornyn commented, noting that Bessent “seems to be free of major controversies.”

Bessent’s support from Senate Republicans follows the withdrawal of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., from his attorney general nomination last month, as it became evident he lacked backing from enough Republicans.

Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, has faced scrutiny over accusations of sexual assault, heavy drinking, and other denied allegations. Additionally, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen for the Department of Health and Human Services, has been criticized for promoting misinformation regarding vaccines and COVID-19.

Despite this, many Senate Republicans continue to back both Hegseth and Kennedy. However, in selecting Bessent, Trump has opted for a more conventional figure rather than a fiercely ideologically-driven choice, despite his previous anti-establishment rhetoric.

With a background in Wall Street, Bessent gained attention for his significant gains betting against the British pound in 1992, resulting in a profit exceeding $1 billion for Soros. His investment firm, Key Square Capital, also profited from an accurate prediction of sustained U.S. inflation in 2022.

Yet, not everyone on the right has embraced Bessent. His nomination faced some backlash from Elon Musk, a billionaire selected by Trump to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk remarked on X, “Bessent is a business-as-usual choice. Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another.”

A Yale alumnus, Bessent, who is 62, has supported Trump’s deregulation efforts, tariffs against certain trading partners, and tax reductions. Trump praised Bessent as “a strong supporter of the America First Agenda” when he announced Bessent’s nomination on Nov. 22.

If the Senate confirms him, Bessent will assume a significant Cabinet role, tasked with advising the president on financial, economic, and tax policies.

Many Republican lawmakers have quickly expressed their admiration for Bessent.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., shared with YSL News that Bessent is “one of the brightest individuals I know.”

“I’ve known him for around 15 years. He will make an excellent treasury secretary,” he added. “He has a solid grasp of both domestic and global finance, which is crucial.”

Bessent may also make history if confirmed, as he would be the first openly gay treasury secretary and the first openly LGBTQ Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate under a Republican administration.

Even some Democrats showed a reserved stance on Bessent, noting that he had hosted a fundraising event for then-Vice President Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign.

“I plan to listen to him,” stated Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

However, Wyden criticized Bessent’s support for tariffs.

In a Nov. 15 piece for Fox News, Bessent expressed his endorsement for tariffs, which were a key promise of Trump’s economic campaign. His proposed tariffs include a 60% fee on imports from China and 10 to 20% on other partners.

“For far too long, it has been conventional wisdom to dismiss tariffs as a tool for economic and foreign policy. However, similar to Alexander Hamilton, we should not hesitate to utilize tariffs to enhance the livelihoods of American families and businesses.”

Wyden believes that these tariffs will lead to increased inflation in the U.S., adding: “Trump has claimed that these costs will be borne by foreign nations. That is incorrect. It will impact our workers and consumers.”

Trump acknowledged in a recent “Meet the Press” interview that he couldn’t assure American families that they wouldn’t face higher costs.

This is a result of tariffs that were imposed on other nations.

Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey stated that he would assess all candidates impartially.

“I’m not ruling anyone out. I will meticulously evaluate each one.”