A decision by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to schedule pro forma sessions throughout the August recess which will, in effect, stop Donald Trump from making any recess appointments, has set off a firestorm among the president’s MAGA followers.
According to CSPAN’s Craig Caplan, “Senate just agreed by unanimous consent at the request of Majority Leader Thune to hold pro forma sessions every 3 days following today’s session and not return for votes until Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. This agreement will block President Trump from making recess appointments.”
For Trump’s supporters, insult was added to injury because occasional Trump critics, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME), were sitting behind Thune and smiling as he made the motion.
That led one admirer of the president to post on X, “JUST IN: John Thune blocks President Trump from making recess appointments using pro-forma sessions. RINOs Susan Collins smirks behind him as Lisa Murkowski nods her head in approval. These anti-American people do not have Trump’s back.”
That was followed by a wave of outrage with all three GOP lawmakers labeled “Republicans in Name Only” or “RINO” in shorthand.
Rush Limbaugh’s brother, David Limbaugh complained, “I know Thune says he has ‘institutional concerns’ about recess appointments, but I am no longer that concerned about such things when only one party even tries to honor them AND when all the other preceding presidents have done it — sometimes in great numbers.”
Maga Voice wrote, “This is what a sellout Traitor RINO looks like.”
Frequent X poster and Trump supporter Paul A. Szypula, added, “Leader John Thune on Saturday refused to adjourn the Senate and allow President Trump to make recess appointments. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were pleased. Everyone who warned you Thune was a RINO was right. Primary Thune in 2028. He’s a traitor.”
Bob and Eric Save America podcaster Eric Matheny wrote, “John Thune says Trump can make no recess appointments. Look who are seated behind him – smiling ear to ear. Collins and Murkowski. Thune is a useless RINO!”
“Those faces. Americans who voted overwhelmingly to install President Trump to do the will of the people – we mean nothing to these weak sad pompous “i know whats better for you than you do” individuals. Disgusting that they have this power,” Carol Tisdale stated.
Libertarian Mabel Lynn, added, “Thune has no principles, watching him pretend to now is infuriating. We’ve watched this man violate every conservative principle over the last several years, but now, today, he must draw the line. He is a spineless loser and I’m so sick of seeing his face.”
“It’s bad enough that Thune has deliberately moved at a snail’s pace to confirm Trump’s nominees. But the fact that both he and Mike Johnson are doing pro forma sessions—which exist entirely to block recess appointments—shows that permanent Washington is deliberately obstructing Trump, his nominees, and his agenda,” argued Sean Davis of The Federalist.