President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday publicly inserted himself into the Senate leadership race for the first time, writing on Truth Social that anyone running to become the next Senate majority leader must agree to allow recess appointments in his cabinet.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get the people’s confirmation in a timely manner,” Trump wrote, adding, “Sometimes Votes can take two years or more, it’s up to them it’s what he did four years ago and we need the positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”
One of the demands he outlined is the ability for the president to make recess appointments, which would allow him to appoint people to top administration positions and bypass Senate confirmation.
Currently, both houses of Congress go into “pro forma” sessions, even when the House and Senate are out of town, as a tactic to prevent the president from bypassing confirmation votes.
Supreme Court He scolded President Barack Obama at that time held recess meetings, 9-0, he said he did them during a three-day break and that the breaks were technically longer than that. The ruling gave the Senate more power to block such appointments in the future.
Trump in 2020, in the throes of the Covid pandemic He threatened to adjourn the Congress unilaterally so he could make recess appointments, but the danger never materialized.
Trump’s post Sunday marks the first time he’s vying to replace the de facto Senate Republican leader, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida and John Thune of South Dakota are running to replace him.
Scott quickly weighed in on Sunday, writing on X that he agreed with Trump about the recess meetings.
“I agree 100%. I will do my best to get your nominations through as quickly as possible” Scott wto memorize.
Cornyn wrote in X that it was “unacceptable” for Senate Democrats to block Trump’s appointments.
“The Constitution clearly gives the president the power to make recess appointments,” he said post. “Article II, Section 2, Clause 3: The President shall have power to fill all Vacancies which may occur during the Recess of the Senate, by issuing Commissions to expire at the close of the next Session.”
Thune said members of the Senate should act “quickly and decisively” on Trump’s appointments.
“We need to move quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominations done as quickly as possible, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments.” We cannot allow Schumer and the Senate Dems to block the will of the American people,” he wrote On X.
The race to succeed McConnell has heated up since Election Day, with rank-and-file GOP senators publicly backing his pick.
Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Marco Rubio of Florida and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee endorsed Scott.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., endorsed Cornyn.
In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Thune urged Trump not to endorse the race: “Obviously, if he wanted to, he could have a significant impact on it, but frankly, it would be my choice, and I think it’s in his best interest to stay out of it.”
Scott told Trump in May that he would run to replace McConnell and sought his endorsement, a source familiar with the call said. This was reported by NBC News.
Cornyn, Scott and Thune will meet Tuesday evening at a candidate forum hosted by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Senators will vote for a new majority leader in a secret ballot Wednesday morning, hours before Trump meets with President Joe Biden at the White House.
In the second part of his Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump urged Democrats not to confirm additional judicial nominees before the start of the next session of Congress.
“Additionally, no Judges should be confirmed during this term because Democrats are trying to make fun of their Judges while Republicans are running for Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!” Trump wrote, suggesting that Republicans stop confirming judges during the Democrats’ lame-duck session.
It can only work if Republicans take the process slowly. They can’t unilaterally stop Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., from fielding nominees.