Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, disputed Trump’s belief that climate change is a “hoax” and forcefully reaffirmed his opposition to the sale of public lands during his confirmation hearing Tuesday in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The Whitefish Republican was received amicably, for the most part, by members of both parties during the hours-long hearing and was endorsed by both of Montana’s senators. Republican Steve Daines, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Democrat Jon Tester introduced Zinke and advocated for the fellow Montanan.