President-elect Donald Trump has voiced frustration over Senate Republicans missing critical votes on judicial confirmations. Democrats are racing to approve as many judges as possible before Trump takes office in January, potentially reducing the number of judicial vacancies for Trump to fill during his presidency.
btimesonline revealed that Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday, Trump urged Republicans to resist further judicial appointments. “No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!” he wrote, accusing Senate Republicans of failing to block Democrats’ efforts to “stack the Courts with Radical Left Judges.”
Democrats have made significant progress, confirming two judges this week by 50-48 votes. Republican Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Braun of Indiana were absent from the votes, eliminating the need for Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie. Cruz has since returned to Washington, but Braun’s continued absence has drawn scrutiny, especially as he transitions into his new role as Indiana’s governor.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina did not hide his frustration. “I am very angry – 90% of success in life is showing up,” Tillis told reporters. Highlighting what he considers a missed opportunity, he added, “I’ve got a 4th Circuit nominee that, if my colleagues show up on my side, I’ve secured Democratic votes to defeat. That is very personal to me.”
Trump’s frustration also stems from the broader implications of Biden’s judicial appointments. Biden is now just 15 confirmations away from surpassing Trump’s record for judicial appointments during a first term, adding urgency for Republicans to slow the process. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pressing ahead with late-night and weekend votes to capitalize on Democrats’ current majority.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune has outlined plans to counter Biden’s remaining judicial nominees aggressively. However, with the Democrats still in control until January, Republicans have limited options to outright block confirmations. Schumer remains determined, stating, “We will confirm as many judges as we can before the term ends.”
The frustration within Republican ranks extended to Vice President-elect JD Vance, who faced criticism from Trump’s allies for missing a recent vote on a judicial nominee. Though Vance later deleted a tweet defending his absence, the incident highlights the heightened scrutiny and pressure on Republican lawmakers.
Trump’s anger over the situation recalls similar maneuvers during his own post-2020 election period when Senate Republicans confirmed several of his judicial nominees. Among them was Judge Aileen Cannon, who later played a pivotal role in a federal criminal case involving Trump’s handling of classified documents. The episode underscores the strategic importance of judicial appointments during transitional periods.
Adding to Trump’s concerns is the potential impact on his administration’s ability to shape the judiciary. Every judge confirmed now reduces the number of vacancies he will inherit, which could limit his influence compared to his first term. “The Democrats are trying to stack the Courts on their way out the door,” Trump warned in his Truth Social post.
Source: btimesonline
