President-elect Donald Trump demanded in a social media post on Sunday that U.S. Senate Republicans looking to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell agree to recess appointments, breaking from the traditional Senate confirmation process.
This week’s presidential election was a big win for Republicans with Trump winning the presidency against Vice President Kamala Harris and Republicans taking control of the Senate.
“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 people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.
In his post, Trump was referring to the Senate majority leadership position, currently held by Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.
In a Sunday social media post, President-elect Donald Trump demanded that U. A. Instead of using the Senate confirmation process, Senate Republicans who want to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell consent to recess appointments.
With Republicans gaining control of the Senate and Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election this week, Republicans had a significant victory. Numerous positions, including those of state secretary, homeland security secretary, and defense secretary, must be confirmed by the Senate before Trump can appoint people to his new administration.
Trump has proposed using recess appointments—an exception intended to be used when the Senate is in recess—to circumvent Senate confirmation. This allows the president to appoint temporary members to high-level federal positions without Senate consent.
Trump wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, “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 people confirmed in a timely manner.”. The voting process can occasionally take two years or longer. They committed this act four years ago, and we cannot allow it to occur again. We must fill positions as soon as possible.
In his first term, Trump had more acting secretaries in his cabinet than any other president, despite the fact that many presidents appoint acting cabinet members early in their administrations until a formal nomination process can occur. Despite Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, he also left a number of political positions unfilled in the latter part of his administration.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, told Newsweek via email on Sunday when asked why the president-elect wants to schedule recess appointments: “I don’t think you understand the process.”. “..”.
Trump’s post made reference to the Senate majority leadership, which is presently occupied by Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. A Republican is expected to assume the role after the Senate flipped, but McConnell won’t as he declared earlier this year that he would not serve as the Senate’s Republican leader for the upcoming term.
Florida Senator Rick Scott, a candidate for Senate majority leader, responded to Trump’s demand regarding recess appointments on Sunday by writing on X, “100 percent agree.”. I’ll go above and beyond to expedite the processing of your nominations. “.”.
“It is unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump’s cabinet appointments,” Texas’ John Cornyn, another possible candidate for Senate majority leader, wrote on X on Sunday. If they do, we will continue to meet, even on the weekends, until they agree. Furthermore, the President is specifically given the authority to appoint people during recess by the Constitution. “.”.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the Senate minority whip and a candidate for Senate majority leader, texted Punchbowl News senior congressional reporter Andrew Desiderio on Sunday, saying, “One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments.”. “.
In response to Trump’s post, Desiderio wrote: “Hooooo boy.”. Trump wants. the capability of scheduling recess sessions. To avoid recess appointments, however, the Senate holds pro forma sessions. “,”.
A pro forma session is a short legislative body meeting in which no official business is discussed. Pro forma sessions have been used to stop the president from scheduling appointments during recess.
Trump also instructed his Republican allies to prevent the confirmation of judges by the Democrats, who control the upper house until January 3.
“At this time, no judges should be approved because the Democrats are trying to push through their judges while the Republicans are fighting over leadership,” he wrote in his Sunday X post. THIS IS INCOMMUNITABLE. “.
