Trump weighs in on Senate GOP leadership race, says they ‘must agree to Recess Appointments’ so he can fill Cabinet without delays
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments.”
President-elect Donald Trump has weighed in on the ongoing race for Senate GOP leadership, emphasizing that any candidate seeking the role must commit to supporting recess appointments in the Senate. Trump’s remarks highlighted the challenges posed by Senate delays in confirming appointees, noting that the votes can take “two years, or more.”
In a post on social media, Trump stated, “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.”
“Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,” he continued. “This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!”
Recess appointments allow the president to fill high-level positions temporarily during Senate breaks, bypassing immediate Senate confirmation. Such appointments last until the end of the Senate’s next session unless the appointee is confirmed by the Senate during that time.
Trump’s comments come as the Senate GOP is preparing to elect a new leader following Mitch McConnell’s decision to step down at year’s end. Contenders for the role include Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota, Texas Senator John Cornyn, and Florida Senator Rick Scott. Trump has not publicly endorsed any specific candidate for the position.