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For nearly two years, J.D. Vance has quietly navigated his role as a freshman Senator from Ohio. The Republican, who shifted from finance to bestselling author and Trump supporter, often went unnoticed in the bustling halls of Congress. However, this week, Vance stepped into the spotlight as he worked diligently to convince his fellow Senators to overlook significant concerns regarding one of Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominees. He returned the next day to promote an alternative candidate also facing scrutiny.

Vance’s urgent mission was to salvage the nominations of former Representative Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, and Fox and Friends weekend host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Both candidates were mired in serious allegations, including sexual misconduct, with backgrounds that would have rendered their nominations unthinkable in a pre-Trump political climate.

Thus far, Vance’s attempts have yielded mixed outcomes—he succeeded with one nominee but failed with the other. Despite claims from Trump’s team that discussions were fruitful, resistance to Gaetz proved overwhelming. On Thursday, Gaetz announced he would withdraw from the nomination, hinting at potential limitations to Trump’s sway and illustrating that Senate Republicans may not always align with the President-elect’s push for seemingly unsuitable candidates. The fact that Gaetz did not even receive a hearing suggests he may be one of the first to fall among Trump’s early selections, as Senators indicate their patience with Trumpism has its boundaries.

The nomination of Gaetz for the nation’s top law enforcement position was as predictably doomed as it was championed by Trump. Gaetz is currently under investigation by former House colleagues concerning allegations involving sex, drugs, finances, and minors. In an effort to stave off the ethics panel’s inquiry, he resigned just days before a report was anticipated. While lawmakers are still deliberating on the panel’s findings, they met on Wednesday during Gaetz’s presence but did not reach a conclusion, with plans to reconvene in December. The urgency may have lessened with the collapse of his nomination. The Department of Justice also looked into Gaetz on similar allegations but did not file charges. Furthermore, some Republican colleagues have raised doubts about Gaetz’s suitability for the role of chief law enforcement officer given his reputation as a pro-Trump provocateur and his lack of experience managing a large organization.

Nonetheless, this defiance appears to align with Trump’s criteria for Cabinet selections in his second term. Historically critical of conventional qualifications, Trump seems determined to challenge norms and assert that nothing should be off-limits—at least not until it becomes necessary.

Consider the following:

Adding to the mix is Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, who appears in our latest TIME cover story. Although Musk does not hold an official role in the incoming administration, he remains a significant figure in Trump’s ever-evolving circle of loyalists. However, he has his own set of controversies, ranging from wrongful terminations due to hostile work environments to claims of offering a horse in exchange for an erotic massage. Numerous reports detail alleged sexual interactions between Musk and his employees.

It’s crucial to highlight that the remainder of Trump’s potential Cabinet does not seem significantly more qualified; they merely lack the personal controversies that plague others. For instance, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a veteran, has puzzled intelligence experts with Trump’s interest in appointing her as his chief intelligence adviser. Her past sympathetic remarks about Russia and Syria have raised concerns about her judgment, with Hillary Clinton previously accusing her of being a “Moscow puppet.” Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served in Trump’s first term, labeled Gabbard a “Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer” just this week.

Additionally, Dr. Mehmet Oz is being considered to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a massive agency responsible for significant entitlement programs and public health initiatives. The former television personality, who unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 2022, lacks experience in managing large bureaucracies like CMS and has seen his medical reputation tarnished after years of endorsing products and advice deemed unsupported by scientific evidence. Nevertheless, like others on this list, he knows how to market himself on screen, as demonstrated by his televised “physical” examination of Trump in 2016.

Overall, this group appears ill-equipped to help Trump maintain a narrow governing majority in Washington. The GOP-controlled House may depend on a handful of votes, while the Senate seems to provide Republicans with a slim margin for nominations. Major legislation requiring 60 votes will necessitate the support of seven lawmakers who typically align with Democrats. Forwarding nominees with accusations of sexual assault, allegations of misconduct, or extreme ideologies is unlikely to persuade hesitant lawmakers—whether they be part of the President’s team or his administration.

This situation echoes past events. In 2018, Trump successfully nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, igniting a contentious struggle in Washington following the #MeToo movement. The Senate ultimately confirmed him by a narrow 50-48 margin despite allegations of high school sexual assault. This conflict highlighted how little progress had been made in addressing the treatment of women and the accountability some men face for their actions.

It is noteworthy that the President who championed Kavanaugh’s nomination and remained steadfast amid controversies is the same individual who ascended to office following the release of a tape in which he bragged about his own sexual misconduct.

Now, six years later, Trump is set to reclaim power as the first incoming President with criminal felony convictions, found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case while facing various indictments. He seeks individuals who mirror his persona: charismatic in front of the camera, dubious about facts, and comfortable dismissing their own questionable pasts. In this context, Vance’s Capitol allies may align perfectly with Trump’s vision, but they may not serve the best interests of their fellow Republicans, as seen in the outcome of Gaetz’s nomination, suggesting that Senators may be becoming increasingly aware of this reality.

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