Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) in a new ad released Wednesday pledged to fire Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos within her first 100 days as president—a likely unnecessary move given that DeVos would depart with sitting president Donald Trump.
Klobuchar lists various progressive policy wishes in the 30-second spot now airing in Iowa, sandwiching a promise to dismiss DeVos between expanding Veterans Affairs benefits and addressing mental health and addiction.
Klobuchar's campaign did not respond to a request for comment as to why firing DeVos would be necessary, or as to whether Klobuchar would consider keeping any Trump cabinet members, as when President Barack Obama kept on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates from the Bush administration.
Klobuchar's odd promise recalls failed 2020 hopeful, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.), who told the New York Times he would fire Trump adviser Jared Kushner on his first day in office.
DeVos has been a popular punching bag on the left since her nomination as education secretary. Selected by Trump in 2017, she immediately came under fire from teachers' unions and progressives, due in large part to her advocacy for charter schools.
All 48 Senate Democrats and independents eventually voted against DeVos in one of the most bitter confirmation fights of the Trump era. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm her after Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) also voted against her.