Several prominent MAGA figures, along with other members of the GOP, expressed their disdain for comments reported by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell regarding Donald Trump’s rumored plans to bypass the traditional Senate confirmation process by using recess nominations to approve his cabinet picks.
McConnell reportedly cautioned Trump’s team during a meeting in Washington, saying that, “There will be no recess appointments.”
McConnell’s statements that there would be no recess appointments circulated quickly on social media, sparking reactions from some GOP figures. Florida Senator Rick Scott responded by posting, “Yes, there will be.” Utah Senator Mike Lee added, “Remember when McConnell decided he would no longer speak for Senate Republicans?”
Several of Trump’s proposed Cabinet picks for next year, including Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general, and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, have faced bipartisan criticism and scrutiny over concerns regarding their qualifications and suitability for the positions.
Senate confirmations require a simple majority vote. With the GOP expected to hold a 53-47 majority during the next congressional term, each of Trump’s nominees can withstand no more than three Republican defections.
South Dakota Senator John Thune, set to replace McConnell as GOP Senate leader in January, has previously supported Trump’s push to expedite the confirmation of his administration’s nominees.
On this topic, during an interview with Fox News Thune stated, “I think that all options are on the table, including recess appointments. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that but we’ll find out fairly quickly whether the Democrats want to play ball or not.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has left open the possibility of using recess appointments to help Trump secure his Cabinet picks, emphasizing the importance of delivering on the president-elect’s “overwhelming” America First election mandate.
Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Johnson remarked, “The persons that the president is choosing will help with that agenda; they will take their leadership in these agencies, and they’ll reform them as the people expect and demand.”
He then added, “So we’ll evaluate all that at the appropriate time, and we’ll make the appropriate decision. There may be a function for that, and we’ll have to see how it plays out.”
The Constitution permits presidents to appoint officials to their administrations during Senate recesses to ensure critical positions are not left vacant. This provision was established in response to Congress occasionally taking extended breaks in the early days of the nation’s history.
In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled during Barack Obama’s presidency that the Senate must be in recess or adjourned for at least 10 days before a president can make appointments.
As reported by Axios, if the Senate refuses to recess but the House does, the Constitution grants Trump the authority to adjourn the entire Congress.
Despite this outlook, Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons believes his Republican Party colleagues would not accept an adjournment to allow Trump’s Cabinet choices to pass without a vote.
“They understand our constitutional role,” Coons told Fox News Sunday. “We’re a check and balance. We’re there to be a guardrail.”
Past presidents, including Obama, Clinton, and George W. Bush, have used recess appointments, although President Joe Biden has not, and neither did Trump during his first term.
