Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump reacted with outrage following reports that Senator Mitch McConnell, the former GOP Senate leader, plotted to stall Trump’s Cabinet nominations.

The backlash erupted after a now-deleted tweet from New Yorker writer Jane Mayer alleged that McConnell told colleagues there would be “no recess appointments” for Trump’s nominees.

Mitch McConnell says there will be no “recess appointments” for Trump.

Openly attempting to block Trump’s cabinet picks.

I wonder how much money this old man has laundered and stolen from the American people over the years?

Guess we should check into that. pic.twitter.com/5h7u9pocQN

— DOGE – Department of Government Effeciency Parody (@realdogenews) November 18, 2024

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“Message to Trump Team: ‘There will be no recess appointments,’ Sen. Mitch McConnell said tonight at a Washington gathering,” Mayer wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday evening.

The tweet, which Mayer later deleted without explanation, set off a wave of criticism from Trump allies and supporters, who viewed McConnell’s comments as an attempt to undermine Trump’s agenda.

Trump has been vocal about his intention to use recess appointments to bypass Senate confirmation delays.

Recess appointments allow the president to fill positions temporarily without Senate approval when Congress is not in session.

Trump has demanded that Senate Republicans back this approach, which would expedite the confirmation of his nominees.

Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services, and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, are expected to face tough confirmation battles in the narrowly controlled GOP Senate.

In a Monday post on X, Trump emphasized the importance of recess appointments, writing, “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments… We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”

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…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2024

Trump’s call for action was echoed by Elon Musk, a close ally and potential head of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency. “This is essential. There is no other way,” Musk commented on Trump’s post, adding that delays in confirmations would “make it impossible to enact the change demanded by the American people.”

While McConnell recently stepped down as Senate GOP leader, his reported comments fueled speculation about lingering tensions within the party.

Mitch McConnell is now telling people that there will be no recess appointments in Trump’s next administration.

This guy is in for a rude awakening if he thinks he’s going to usurp the will of 76 million people and dictate Trump’s second term. pic.twitter.com/FoQRX7sUPN

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 18, 2024

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) reminded followers on X that McConnell no longer speaks for Senate Republicans, asking, “Remember that time when McConnell decided he wouldn’t be speaking for Senate Republicans anymore?”

Remember that time when McConnell decided he wouldn’t be speaking for Senate Republicans anymore? https://t.co/tS04hGHUPa

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 18, 2024

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), who unsuccessfully challenged South Dakota Senator John Thune for the GOP leadership position, dismissed the claim, responding bluntly to Mayer’s tweet: “Yes, there will [be recess appointments].”

Yes, there will be. https://t.co/wn8EzfnKHr

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 18, 2024

Thune, now the incoming Senate GOP leader, has pledged support for Trump’s agenda, signaling that recess appointments may be an option. “One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s Cabinet and other nominees in place… All options are on the table, including recess appointments,” Thune said over the weekend.

Despite Trump’s push, using recess appointments remains legally and procedurally complex.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress must be in recess for at least 10 days to enable such appointments, limiting the president’s ability to act unilaterally.

Additionally, the Senate can hold “pro forma sessions” to prevent formal recesses, a tactic used in recent years to block presidents from bypassing the confirmation process.

John Yoo, a former Justice Department official under President George W. Bush, explained the challenges, noting that the Senate could retaliate by refusing to adjourn or confirming only “inferior officers.”

He also warned of potential funding cuts to appointees’ offices if the Senate resists Trump’s strategy.

Trump’s frustrations with the confirmation process echo delays faced during his first term.

By the 200-day mark of his presidency, only 119 nominees had been confirmed, compared to more than 200 under Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama.

Trump’s focus on recess appointments reflects his determination to avoid similar delays in his second term, especially with a GOP Senate majority.

As the transition unfolds, the debate over Trump’s Cabinet nominations and the use of recess appointments highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape.

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