Is Republican leadership playing a sneaky game of keep-away with President Donald Trump’s constitutional powers? Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., seems to think so, as he’s taken to social media to blast House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for a plan that could kneecap Trump’s ability to make recess appointments during the congressional summer break.
According to Newsmax, the heart of this brewing storm is a strategy by GOP leaders to call the House and Senate into session every few days during the August recess, effectively blocking Trump from using his constitutional authority to appoint temporary officials while Congress is out.
This isn’t just a procedural hiccup; it’s a deliberate move by Johnson and Thune to ensure minimal attendance during these token sessions, keeping the chambers technically “in session” and out of Trump’s reach for recess appointments.
Massie didn’t hold back, airing his grievances on X both Thursday and Friday, accusing leadership of undermining the president’s rightful powers. “During August recess, Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune plan to call the House and Senate into session every four or five days, with practically no one there, for the sole purpose of preventing Trump from making recess appointments,” Massie posted on Friday. Well, if the goal was to avoid real work while still thwarting Trump, mission accomplished—though it’s hard to see this as a win for conservative principles.
Adding fuel to the fire, political researcher Anna Matson suggested on X that this tactic might be less about principle and more about power plays. “It's most likely so they have power to cut deals with Trump,” Matson posted on Friday. If senators are holding votes hostage for political favors, as she implies, then this isn’t just a procedural spat—it’s a swampy bargaining chip.
Massie isn’t alone in his frustration, as other Republican senators have joined the chorus of discontent this week. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah took to X on Wednesday, urging his colleagues to either stay in session to confirm Trump’s 135 pending nominees or step aside and let recess appointments happen.
“Tell your senators to either stay & get the job done, confirming the 135 Trump nominees pending in the Senate, or recess & let President Trump make recess appointments, as authorized by the Constitution,” Lee posted. If only common sense were as contagious as outrage—Lee’s call for accountability is a breath of fresh air in a chamber often choked by partisan gridlock.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin was even more succinct, posting on X, “Time for recess appointments.” Short, sweet, and straight to the point—perhaps a rarity in politics, but a welcome one when the stakes are this high.
While GOP leadership’s strategy draws ire from within, the Senate’s confirmation process itself has been a battlefield, with Democrats accused of stonewalling nearly every Trump nominee. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming didn’t mince words on the floor, noting that Democrats have filibustered all but one of Trump’s picks.
“Democrats have filibustered all but one of President Trump's nominees, and that was the very first nominee: Marco Rubio to be secretary of state,” Barrasso stated. Rubio’s confirmation on day one of the administration stands as the lone exception to a wall of obstruction that, as Barrasso argues, harms not just Trump but the nation itself.
“For more than six months, Senate Democrats have turned advice and consent into automatic opposition,” Barrasso continued. “It doesn't just delay President Trump. It damages the country.” If Democrats are playing hardball to score political points, they might want to remember that governance isn’t a game—real people bear the cost of these delays.
Despite the obstruction, the Senate did mark its 100th confirmation on Thursday, a milestone Barrasso highlighted amidst the ongoing partisan tug-of-war. “Despite continued obstruction from Senate Democrats,” he said on the floor, pointing to the uphill battle Republicans face even in achieving incremental progress.
Yet, with 135 nominees still pending, this milestone feels more like a speed bump than a victory lap. The question remains whether GOP leadership’s recess strategy is a pragmatic counter to Democratic delays or simply another layer of bureaucratic nonsense.
At the end of the day, this clash within the Republican ranks reveals a deeper tension between loyalty to party tactics and fidelity to constitutional authority. If Johnson and Thune are banking on these faux sessions to maintain leverage over Trump, they might find themselves outmaneuvered by a president who’s never been shy about shaking up the status quo. Conservatives watching this unfold can only hope that principle, not politics, ultimately wins the day.
