News/Commentary

Trump spells out key requirement for Senate GOP leader, top contender agrees, ‘whatever it takes’

November 11, 2024 | | Print Article

Ahead of a secret ballot planned this week, one of the top contenders for Senate Leader was quick to react when President-elect Donald Trump gave voice to a key expectation.

In stark contrast to the contested speakership in the House of Representatives that twice became a spectacle in 2023, selecting a leader in the Senate remained an anonymous process under Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. With his successor slated to be chosen Wednesday, Florida Sen. Rick Scott was quick to respond when Trump expressed the need for recess appointments.

Having yet to put his thumb on the scale in backing any of the three senators vying for the role, which along with Scott included Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota, the Florida lawmaker appeared to be the first to react when the president-elect posted to social media, “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. 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!” Trump went on as, minutes later, Scott shared the post with the caption, “100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”

While concern arose about the senator’s past position regarding red flag laws and former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, Scott dominated social media polls conducted, even when “Other” was presented as an option.

After well over a million participants, a poll posted by Elon Musk showed the Florida lawmaker earned just shy of two-thirds of support while nearly 23% opted for “Other,” 6.6% went to Thune and 5.2% went to Cornyn. Though not included in the question, many had bandied about the idea of Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance taking on the role of Senate Leader, saying that the constitutionally-named President of the Senate may better steer the upper chamber throughout Trump’s second administration.

Scott wasn’t alone in reacting to the call for recess appointments as Thune, currently the Republican Whip, issued a statement to Fox News Digital that he neither opposed the idea nor discarded it.

“I’ve spent eight months carefully listening to my colleagues about their vision for the next chapter of the Senate Republican Conference, especially as we hit the ground running with President Trump,” the senator expressed. “One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let [New York Sen.] Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats block the will of the American people.”

Cornyn, who had previously noted he would keep the Senate in session until Trump’s Cabinet was fully appointed, posted to X Sunday, “It is unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump’s cabinet appointments. If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments.”

“Article II, Section 2, Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session,” added the senator.

Kevin Haggerty
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