Top GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has managed to upset both President Donald Trump and his supporters.
The drama started Tuesday when President Trump lashed out at Grassley via Truth Social, questioning why the Judiciary Committee chair was honoring the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition.
Dating back to 1917, the “blue slip” process allows home-state senators to submit a blue slip indicating whether they approve or disapprove of a judicial nominee. It takes only one slip to block a nomination from proceeding — particularly for district court judges and U.S. attorneys.
In his Truth Social post published Tuesday, Trump called the “blue slip” tradition an “unconstitutional custom” that allows “even one person in the opposite party” to stop nominations from proceeding.
More importantly, Trump pressured Grassley to drop the “blue slip” tradition “and let our Great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys BE CONFIRMED.”
“He should do this, IMMEDIATELY, and not let the Democrats laugh at him and the Republican Party for being weak and ineffective,” the president implored. “The Democrats have broken this ridiculous custom on us, it’s time that we break it on them. Chuck, I know you have the Courage to do this, DO IT!”
This request, however, did not appear to please Grassley.
“I’ve already spoken about the blue slip problem, and I’ve got no more to say than what I’ve been saying for 50 years,” he told reporters late Tuesday, according to Politico.
“His office also provided a statement saying Grassley has, and will continue, to move judges through his committee with buy-in from Democrats,” Politico further notes.
Then on Wednesday, the senator issued a statement saying he was “offended” by the president’s post.
Listen:
Chuck Grassley says he’s “offended” that Trump called on him to push his judicial nominations through the Senate, and “disappointed that it led to personal insults.”
I’m offended that Chuck is allowing Democrats to block lifetime appointments to the bench.pic.twitter.com/m1smpNpzke
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) July 30, 2025
“Last night, I was surprised to see President Trump on Truth Social go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the ‘blue slip,'” Grassley said. “I was offended by what the President said, and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insult.”
It’s not clear which part of Trump’s post that Grassley interpreted as a personal insult, though it could have been the part about Trump helping Grassley get reelected “when he was down, by a lot.”
“To people in the Real America — not here in Washington, D.C., an island surrounded by reality — the people in Real America don’t care about what the ‘blue slip’ is, but, in fact, it impacts the district judges who serve their communities and the U.S. Attorneys who ensure law and order is enforced,” Grassley added.
By Thursday morning, Trump had not yet responded to Grassley, but his supporters certainly had. Many of them sided with the president, with some even accusing the senator of being a RINO:
We are going to vote Grassley out of office. Time is long past.
— the Eagle (@theEagl30155907) July 30, 2025
Grassley is now channeling Kamala. That’s how far gone this senile RINO is. Primary.
— Trader (@InvestOrTradeX) July 30, 2025
Me thinks that the Senator has held his office too long and lost his perspective. He’s supposed to do what’s best for the country, not what’s best for the Senate.
— AAPJr (@AAPJr) July 30, 2025
I’m offended there are no term limits and dead people like Grassley are still working in Washington self enriching themselves via inside trading and kickbacks! @ChuckGrassley
— Patriot Mother (@DorisKoest85554) July 31, 2025
However, there were also those who recognized that Grassley has long been a top GOP team player responsible for accomplishing so much:
You know what it’s all good – honestly Grassley is one of the best Senators on the team in terms of shining light on the Deep State. I don’t think it’s worth getting bent out of shape just because he’s going to do things his way
— Guild Navigator (@_GuildNavigator) July 30, 2025
Grassley’s colleagues, meanwhile, were reportedly also offended by Trump’s post.
“There’s a lot of negative reaction by me and my colleagues to the specific treatment of Sen. Grassley,” an anonymous senator told The Hill, adding that Trump’s post crossed the line.
“There’s a lot of desire to see Chuck Grassley treated correctly. It was really the talk of the floor last night,” the unnamed GOP operative added.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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