As head of the Department of Homeland Security, retired Gen. John Kelly would have the authority to carry out some of Donald Trump’s most aggressive proposals. These include the erection of a massive wall along the southern border, the jailing and deportation of millions of immigrants, and the transfer of military-style technology to local police departments.

Sitting alongside him at today’s Senate confirmation hearing were some powerful allies: Sen. John McCain, Sen. Tom Carper, and Bob Gates, the former head of the Pentagon and CIA who is now principal of the consulting firm Rice Hadley Gates LLC, which was reportedly instrumental in the selection of Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon, a Rice Hadley Gates client, as secretary of state.

The words “truth to power,” an endorsement of Kelly uttered by former CIA Director Leon Panetta to the New York Times yesterday, were repeated several times, including in Kelly’s written answers to the committee’s questions. Gates called Kelly a “straight-talking, candid, courageous leader” and “a man of great moral authority.” Carper said “he knows what is right” and will “use common sense.” Kelly assured the committee that “I believe in respect, tolerance, and diversity of opinion.”

While the word “Trump” was not mentioned in any of their opening remarks, the argument was clear: Kelly will push back on the crazier tendencies of the man he hopes to serve.