Last week, President Donald Trump fired a shot right across the bow of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a longtime loyalist.
Trump was upset over Democrat senators using blue slips to block his judicial appointments.
Well, Grassley has just answered back, and it is surely going to create yet another scuffle within the GOP between Trump and a powerful Republican.
Trump is furious that Grassley is allowing blue slips from Democrats to block nominees for U.S. Attorney and judicial appointments.
For those who are not aware of this procedure, home-state senators are given blue slips for appointments to either support or block an appointment. If both senators from the relevant state do not support the nominee, then that nominee is usually taken off the board. This is clearly a problem for Trump in states where both senators are Democrats.
Trump went off on Grassley, demanding he forego the traditional process, posting, “Senator Grassley must step up, like Crooked Joe Biden did, when he openly broke, at least two times, the ‘Blue Slip’ SCAM, and like others have done over the years, and let our Great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys BE CONFIRMED. He should do this, IMMEDIATELY, and not let the Democrats laugh at him and the Republican Party for being weak and ineffective. The Democrats have broken this ridiculous custom on us, it’s time that we break it on them. Chuck, I know you have the Courage to do this, DO IT!”
Everyone was shocked by the rant from Trump, especially considering how loyal Grassley has been to the president over the years.
Grassley was furious when Trump went after him, responding, "Now, to people in the Real America — not here in Washington, D.C., an island surrounded by reality — the people in Real America don't care about what the 'blue slip' is, but, in fact, it impacts the district judges who serve their communities and the U.S. Attorneys who ensure law and order is enforced. I was offended by what the president said, and I'm disappointed that it would result in personal insults."
Grassley was not alone, as Senate Republicans rallied around Grassley, including other longtime Trump loyalists, such as Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), who stated, “I do not agree with the president on that. I understand his frustration. President Biden had the same frustration.”
He continued, “With respect, Mr. President, pretty please, with sugar on top, back off this, because I don’t think the Senate’s going to go along, and I think it’s just a needless fight.”
Other senators who took up for Grassley were Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), the current majority leader, and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), another Trump loyalist. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) also struck back at Trump, who called his comments an “unnecessary” attack against Grassley.
Grassley is now playing the power game with Trump, showing who has real influence in the government. And without Grassley moving forward, Trump’s agenda comes to a grinding halt. The Iowa senator just slammed the brakes on all three of Trump’s Treasury Department appointments to push back against new rules that would limit tax credits on renewable energy.
The senator stated, "Until I can be certain that such rules and regulations adhere to the law and congressional intent, I intend to continue to object to the consideration of these Treasury nominees.”
This is Grassley telling Trump to play nice or suffer the consequences. Few in Congress on the Republican side of the aisle have stood up to Trump when he goes into bullying mode, and surely nobody with the clout of Grassley has. I warned against this when Trump made his initial statement, noting that it was only a matter of time before this tactic backfired on Trump. Now it’s a staring contest to see who blinks first.
Trump has now put himself into a no-win scenario. If he caves on the credits, Grassley wins. If he refuses to back down on the credits, Grassley locks down any further appointments, and the administration goes into a holding pattern. Regardless, unless Grassley has a change of heart, I don’t see a way out for Trump without him losing a little face.
