WASHINGTON — As Senate Republicans prepare to select a new leader, President-elect Donald Trump is urging the candidates to modify the rules to allow him to appoint certain nominees without requiring a Senate vote.
Republican Senators John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Rick Scott of Florida are competing in a closed ballot election scheduled for Wednesday in a bid to lead the GOP conference, taking over from Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down after nearly twenty years in the role. All three candidates have been seeking Trump’s backing, each trying to position themselves as the candidate most aligned with him in their pursuit of the majority leader position.
Although Trump has not made an official endorsement, he recently indicated a preference for the new leader to circumvent standard Senate procedures to enable a swift Cabinet filling. In posts on social media platforms, Trump stated that the next leader “must agree” to facilitate appointments during Senate recesses, thus avoiding the need for confirmation votes.
Trump asserted that any Republican seeking the leadership role must support the idea of Recess Appointments in the Senate, suggesting that without this capability, timely confirmations would be out of reach. He emphasized that positions should be filled “IMMEDIATELY!”
Since a 2014 Supreme Court ruling, the Senate has limited the ability of presidents to make such interim appointments. To prevent the president from filling positions during prolonged absences, the Senate has conducted brief “pro forma” sessions during recesses longer than 10 days.
Despite this, as Trump’s support becomes a deciding factor in the leadership campaign, all three candidates have expressed a willingness to explore the revival of the recess appointment practice. Scott assured Trump that he was “100%” on board with expedited confirmations, while Thune emphasized the need for “quick and decisive” action to position nominees, also mentioning that all options, including recess appointments, must be considered.
Cornyn commented on the importance of not allowing Senate Democrats to obstruct Trump’s cabinet nominations, stating that if they do, the Republicans would remain in session, even on weekends, until the situation was resolved. He also pointed out that the Constitution permits recess appointments.
This exchange on social media has become an initial challenge for the three candidates following Trump’s substantial election win. During his first term, Trump faced difficulties with Congress, particularly regarding nominee approvals, and often sought ways to bypass congressional opposition. With fresh momentum from his recent victory, Trump is now making it clear he expects Republicans, including their upcoming leader, to support his Cabinet choices.
Additionally, Trump warned on social media against approving any judges in the lead-up to the new Republican administration, recognizing the complicated nature of this request since Senate Democrats will maintain control and hold the majority of votes until the new Congress takes office on January 3. He criticized the situation, stating that Democrats could potentially push through their judicial nominees while Republicans are preoccupied with leadership disputes, which he deemed “not acceptable.”
As the election for Senate Republican leader nears, the dynamics remain fluid. Thune and Cornyn, both respected long-serving Senators and former deputies to McConnell, are viewed as leading candidates despite having previously expressed critical sentiments about Trump. Scott, a close ally of Trump, has positioned himself more as a contender in recent days, aggressively campaigning on various platforms to secure Trump’s endorsement.
Several Senators close to Trump, including Mike Lee of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida, have thrown their support behind Scott, along with influential figures like Elon Musk, who are known to have the ear of the former president.