President-elect Donald Trump called on the next Republican Senate leader to support recess appointments so that his administration can be filled quickly.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote in an X post Sunday. “Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again.”
Republicans won the Senate majority in the 2024 election, flipping it from a Democratic majority. Three GOP candidates have been eyeing the majority leader position — Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida. The current Republican leader, Rep. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, is stepping down.
Mr. Scott was quick to back Mr. Trump’s idea, saying he “100% agree[s].”
“I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible,” he said.
Mr. Scott, who led the party’s campaign arm during the 2022 cycle, has the backing of Tesla owner and X CEO Elon Musk, who has grown to be a top ally of Mr. Trump. Mr. Scott also has support from Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson.
Mr. Thune, who is the current GOP whip and previously chaired the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, also agreed with Mr. Trump in an X post Sunday.
“We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, & all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments,” he wrote. “We cannot let [Senate Majority Leader Charles E.] Schumer [New York Democrat] and Senate Dems block the will of the American people.”
Mr. Thune has the backing of Sens. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.
Mr. Cornyn said in his own X post Sunday that 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,” he said, citing Article II, Section 2, Clause 3, which gives the president power to fill vacancies in the Senate during recess.
Mr. Cornyn was previously Republican whip and spent time as the party’s campaign arm.
The leadership election will be Wednesday morning, just a day after Congress returns from a long recess.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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