Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) hit President Trump for nominating Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, saying Trump "bowed to the elite in Washington" with the selection.

Santorum, a CNN political commentator, said on CNN's "Cuomo PrimeTime" on Monday that Trump "said he was going to energize the base with this pick. I don't think he did that."

"He is from Washington," Santorum said of Kavanaugh. "He is the establishment pick. He is the Bush pick."

Kavanaugh, 53, served as the White House staff secretary to former President George W. Bush. He also worked on independent counsel Ken Starr's investigation of former President Clinton, and is currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

"It just seems like Trump, in this case, just bowed to the elite in Washington. I think that's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way," Santorum said.

"I don't think it's going to be a game changer, but I think it's not a, 'Yeah, let's go get them,' kind of moment for Trump," he added.

Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the Senate, have largely praised Kavanaugh's selection for the Supreme Court. If confirmed, the conservative could reshape the court for decades to come.

Democrats have slammed the pick, with some quickly promising to oppose him.