Senate Majority Leader John Thune has publicly criticized Senate Democrats for unparalleled obstruction of President Donald Trump’s civilian nominees, referring to the resistance as ‘unprecedented.’ During an interview on the ‘Brian Kilmeade Show,’ Thune expressed frustration with the Democrats for their systematic delays and blockades in the confirmation process. According to Thune, Trump, in the first term of his presidency, has never had a civilian nominee approved by either a voice vote or unanimously by the Senate. This situation has caused a significant delay in confirming key positions, including those in major departments like Education, Labor, and Agriculture, as well as various judges and ambassadors.
Thune accused Senate Democrats of engaging in a strategy of delay, obstruction, and blocking, resulting in a substantial slowdown in the Senate’s confirmations. In response to heightened tensions, Thune has suggested the possibility of canceling the Senate’s August recess to expedite the confirmation of these key appointments, a proposal that has been supported by President Trump. Thune acknowledged the White House’s level of frustration with the delays, but he maintained that while the process is challenging, it should be much simpler than it currently is. He emphasized that there is a benefit in allowing lawmakers to return to their home state and constituents, but he believes that the process is being unnecessarily complicated by Democratic actions.
The situation took a more heated turn earlier in the month when some Democrats walked out of a Judiciary Committee meeting in protest about the nominations of Trump’s appointees, specifically Emil Bove for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Jeanine Pirro for the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Sen. Dick Durbin claimed that some Democratic members were denied the chance to discuss the controversial records of these nominees, leading to the walkout and the Senate Republicans blocking debate.
Thune also mentioned that earlier in the year, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had supported a strategy to delay all of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees who lacked full, unanimous support in the Senate. Additionally, Schumer used procedural moves to stall some federal prosecutors in committee. This pattern of behavior by the Democrats has led to Thune’s frustration and his call to ‘grind them down’ to overcome their resistance. With the Senate’s confirmation process stalled, Thune’s frustration and the potential for increased tensions in the coming months appear to be on the rise.