Trump’s labour pick withdraws nomination
Andrew Puzder faced critics from within Republican party over business, personal past
WASHINGTON— The troubled nomination of fast-food executive Andrew Puzder to become President Donald Trump’s labour secretary collapsed Wednesday amid growing Republican opposition.
Puzder, chief executive of Carpinteria, Calif.-based CKE Restaurants Inc., the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains, abruptly withdrew just a day before he was to face a Senate confirmation hearing.
He had faced aggressive attacks in recent weeks by Democrats, unions, workers’ rights advocates and fastfood employees for labour-law violations at his company’s restaurants and his opposition to a significant increase in the federal minimum wage. But his decision to pull out was triggered by concerns from a growing number of Senate Republicans about decades-old allegations of spousal abuse and an admission that he had employed a housekeeper who was in the U.S. illegally.
“After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for secretary of labour,” Puzder said in a statement emailed by his spokesperson. “I am honoured to have been considered by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Labor and put America’s workers and businesses back on a path to sustainable prosperity.
“While I won’t be serving in the administration, I fully support the president and his highly qualified team,” Puzder said.
Democrats rejoiced as they succeeded in helping knock out one of Trump’s cabinet nominees.
“His withdrawal from consideration is good news for hard-working Americans across the country,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “It’s time for President Trump to stop looking out for his billionaire buddies and name a secretary of labour who will stand up for workers.”
The collapse of Puzder’s nomination adds to what was already the toughest week of Trump’s young presidency. After seeing his controversial travel ban blocked by federal courts last week, Trump lost one of his early key supporters with the forced resignation Monday night of Michael Flynn. The former national security adviser was pushed out over false statements he made about his December contacts with a Russian diplomat.
Waning GOP support for Puzder was also a sign that Republicans on Capitol Hill — who had previously been reluctant to confront Trump over policy or cabinet appointments — are feeling emboldened to stand up to the new president. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was confirmed last week thanks only to a tiebreaking vote from Vice-President Mike Pence after two Republicans voted against her. Trump issued no statement Wednesday regarding Puzder’s decision. Puzder, 66, helped CKE Restaurants overcome severe financial difficulties in the 1990s before becoming chief executive in 2000. He raised the profile of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s with ads featuring scantily clad women eating oversized hamburgers. Puzder also was an opponent of increased government regulation, criticizing the Affordable Care Act and the Obama administration’s attempt to expand the number of workers eligible for overtime pay.
Speculation swirled in recent days that Puzder would drop out rather that face a gruelling fight, but he initially vowed through a spokesperson that he was “all-in.” By Wednesday, those close to him were publicly acknowledging he had grown weary of the negative publicity and criticism.