Donald Trump, the US president-elect, has insisted that all Republicans running for Senate leadership consent to let him name cabinet members without a confirmation vote.
Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform that any Republican senator hoping to win the US Senate’s coveted LEADERSHIP position would have to consent to recess appointments (in the Senate!). He said, “We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”
This demand is being made as Republican senators are choosing their next leader, who will have a lot of influence in the chamber following the party’s recent election victory.
While the Constitution allows presidents to bypass Senate confirmation votes through “recess appointments” when the chamber is in an extended recess, this practice has been largely abandoned since a 2014 Supreme Court ruling limited the president’s ability to use it. The Senate has been holding short “pro-forma” sessions to prevent such appointments.
Trump’s demand, however, signals his intention to circumvent the Senate confirmation process and install his desired cabinet members without facing any potential scrutiny or challenges.
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The three Republican senators running for the leadership position – Rick Scott, John Cornyn, and John Thune – all quickly responded to Trump’s demands, suggesting they might be willing to reconsider the use of recess appointments.
Trump’s relationship with Congress was tumultuous during his first term, marked by resistance to his selections and attempts to work around lawmakers. His latest demand highlights his desire to control the Senate leadership and ensure his nominees are swiftly approved.
In addition to his cabinet demands, Trump also called for a halt to all pending judicial nominations, claiming Democrats are trying to “ram through” their judges while Republicans are focused on the leadership election.
With Democrats narrowly controlling the Senate during President Biden’s term, they have successfully confirmed hundreds of federal judges, seeking to counterbalance the large number of conservative judges appointed by Trump during his first term.
The next Senate, which will be sworn in early January, is expected to be controlled by Republicans with at least 52 seats. The outcome of the Republican leadership race and how they respond to Trump’s demands will be closely watched.
Source: Al Jazeera
