The GOP-led Senate began its August recess on Saturday evening after President Donald Trump condemned a potential deal between Republicans and Democrats on confirming his nominees.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had been “demanding” more than $1 billion in exchange for Democrats not impeding the process of confirming a “small number” of his “highly qualified” nominees.
“This demand is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted. It is political extortion, by any other name. Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!” Trump exclaimed.
Trump also gave his blessing to Senate Republicans to begin the August recess, a change in tune by the president who had been pressing Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to stay in Washington, D.C., and keep confirming his nominees in the face of delay tactics.
“Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country,” the president added. “Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
The Democrats had sought to unfreeze more than $1 billion in money for the National Institutes of Health and foreign aid, as well as a pledge for no more rescissions packages to claw back funds that have already been allocated by Congress, according to Fox News.
“Let me clear what happened: Donald Trump attempted to steamroll the Senate to put in place his historically unqualified nominees. But Senate Democrats wouldn’t let him,” Schumer declared in a post on X.
Senators agreed to have pro forma sessions every few days during the August recess, preventing any recess appointments, and not return for votes until September 2. The House, which is also controlled by Republicans, already broke off for the summer.
The Senate did confirm a number of Trump’s nominees before leaving town, including a vote to keep Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and passed some fiscal 2026 appropriations bills ahead of the September 30 deadline.
“Very proud of our great Republican Senators for fighting, over the Weekend and far beyond, if necessary, in order to get my great Appointments approved, and on their way to helping us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said in another post on Truth Social.
He further exclaimed that “Radical Left Democrat Senators are doing everything possible to DELAY these wonderful and talented people from being approved,” and stated, “Thank you to Senator John Thune and our Republican Warriors in the Senate.”