Key Takeaways
- •The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings for four nominees, with Jeremy Carl facing intense scrutiny over his controversial past statements on race and antisemitism.
- •Jeremy Carl partially apologized for minimizing the Holocaust but defended his views on "white culture" and anti-white discrimination in America.
- •Senator Booker (D-NJ) directly confronted Jeremy Carl (Witness) on his beliefs about racial makeup, "great replacement theory," and equating Capitol rioters to Jim Crow victims.
- •Democratic Senators strongly condemned Jeremy Carl's past comments as racist and antisemitic, while Republican Senators introduced him and questioned his controversial remarks.
- •The committee adjourned, leaving the nominations pending, with the record open for further questions, indicating Jeremy Carl's confirmation faces significant opposition.
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Hearing Analysis
Summary
Wesley Brooks
Overview
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Hearing Date: 2026-02-12
Summary:
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee met on February 12, 2026, to consider the nominations of four individuals for key diplomatic and international development roles. The nominees included Dr. Wesley Brooks for Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES); Jeremy Carl for Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (IO); William Long for U.S. Ambassador to Iceland; and Robert Sweeney for U.S. Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Chairman James E. Risch (R-ID) presided over the hearing, which was marked by a sharp divide between routine policy discussions for three of the nominees and intense, highly personal confrontations regarding the fitness of Mr. Carl.
The hearing began with introductions from several prominent figures. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) introduced Dr. Brooks, highlighting his background in ecological science and his work as Florida’s Chief Resilience Officer. Former Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced William Long, emphasizing his 12 years of service in the House of Representatives and his business acumen. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced Jeremy Carl, noting his tenure at the Hoover Institution and his mentorship under the late Secretary of State George Shultz.
Policy Proposals
Dr. Wesley Brooks outlined a vision for the OES Bureau centered on "common-sense environmental policy" that prioritizes American workers and national security. He identified countering the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) global ambitions as a primary objective, specifically regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and competition in the Arctic and Antarctic. Dr. Brooks also emphasized the importance of American space superiority and the securing of supply chains for critical minerals. During questioning from Chairman Risch, Dr. Brooks addressed the ongoing negotiations for an international plastics treaty. He expressed opposition to global regulatory frameworks that would impose caps on plastic production, arguing instead for a focus on U.S.-led innovation in waste management and recycling to protect the domestic manufacturing sector.
Key Testimony
William Long’s testimony focused on the strategic importance of Iceland as a NATO ally, particularly in the context of monitoring Russian and Chinese activities in the North Atlantic. He pledged to strengthen cooperation at Naval Air Station Keflavik and promote bilateral trade in biotechnology. However, Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) questioned Mr. Long regarding past comments in which he jokingly referred to Iceland as the "52nd state" and himself as its potential governor. Mr. Long apologized for the remarks, characterizing them as an inappropriate "quip" made among friends, and committed to treating the diplomatic post with the necessary seriousness.
Robert Sweeney, nominated for the Asian Development Bank, focused his testimony on the need to graduate China from ADB borrowing. He argued that as the world’s second-largest economy, China should no longer receive development funds intended for impoverished nations. Mr. Sweeney also expressed support for the ADB’s recent shift toward financing nuclear power projects, stating that he would work to ensure U.S. nuclear technology is utilized in the region to bolster energy security against authoritarian competitors. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) pushed Mr. Sweeney on the ADB’s involvement in projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which Mr. Sweeney agreed was inappropriate for a multilateral bank.
Overview
The most contentious portion of the hearing involved Jeremy Carl. Democratic members, led by Ranking Member Shaheen and Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), and Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), confronted Mr. Carl with a litany of his past writings and podcast appearances. The senators cited comments in which Mr. Carl allegedly promoted "white supremacy," minimized the Holocaust, and claimed that white Americans are victims of "cultural genocide." Senator Rosen, speaking as a Jewish woman, condemned Mr. Carl’s statements that "Jews love to play the victim" and his critiques of the Jewish community’s political influence. Mr. Carl admitted that some of his past comments regarding the Holocaust were "absolutely wrong" and expressed regret for them, but he stood by other views.
Partisan Dynamics
Under questioning from Senator Murphy, Mr. Carl affirmed his belief that anti-white discrimination is the most "politically salient" form of racism in the U.S. today. He also defended his use of the "Great Replacement" theory, defining it as the demographic replacement of Europeans in Europe, and argued that the Democratic Party’s immigration policies reflected similar trends in the U.S. Senator Booker delivered a blistering rebuke, accusing Mr. Carl of lacking "decency" and "honor" for equating the treatment of January 6th rioters to victims of Jim Crow-era lynchings. Senator John R. Curtis (R-UT) also expressed concern that Mr. Carl’s past rhetoric would undermine his ability to defend Israel and other U.S. allies in international organizations.
Key Testimony
Throughout the hearing, Republican members largely focused on the policy goals of the Trump administration, such as UN reform and strategic competition with China. Chairman Risch noted that the administration had already begun withdrawing from 66 international organizations deemed redundant or contrary to U.S. interests. Mr. Carl pledged to continue this reform agenda, seeking to reduce the UN budget and eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse."
Overview
The hearing concluded with Chairman Risch announcing that the record would remain open until the close of business the following day for additional questions. The stark partisan divide over Mr. Carl’s nomination suggests a difficult path forward for his confirmation, while the other three nominees faced less resistance regarding their personal backgrounds, despite some concerns over experience and past rhetoric. Organizations mentioned during the hearing included the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Claremont Institute, and the Hoover Institution. Specific policy areas impacted include Arctic security, international fisheries, space commerce, and multilateral development finance.
Transcript
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will come to order. Good to see all of you today. We welcome our guests. Remind the people we're glad to have everyone here watching. We have zero tolerance for interruptions, as has been demonstrated quite well in recent times. Senator Blunt, so good to see you back again. Welcome. Good to see you.
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