After a resounding election victory , delivering what President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans call a "mandate" to govern , an uneasy political question is emerging Will there be any room for dissent in the U.S. Congress?
Trump is laying down a gauntlet even before taking office challenging the Senate , in particular, to dare defy him over the nominations of Matt Gaetz , Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other controversial choices for his Cabinet and administration positions .
The promise of unified government , with the Republican Party's sweep of the White House and GOP majorities in the House and Senate , is making way for a more complicated political reality as congressional leaders confront anew what it means to line up with Trump's agenda.
"This is going to be a red alert moment for American democracy," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said on CNN after Trump tapped Gaetz for attorney general.
Trump is returning to the White House at the height of his political power, having won both the Electoral College and the popular vote for his party for the first time in decades. The trifecta in Washington offers a tantalizing political opportunity for Republicans, opening up a universe of political and policy priorities - from tax cuts to mass deportations to the gutting of the regulatory and federal bureaucracy, along with Trump's vows to seek vengeance and prosecution of his perceived enemies and pardon those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 .
