Trump pushes to block Democrats approval of Biden's judges - Axios
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Newly elected US President Donald Trump has demanded that Republican senators work to prevent Democrats from confirming additional judges to US courts before the new White House leader's inauguration, according to Axios.
Axios reminded that President Joe Biden has only 15 judicial appointments remaining to match the record set by Trump during his first term (2016–2020) of 234 judicial appointments.
“The Democrats are trying to stack the Courts with Radical Left Judges on their way out the door. Republican Senators need to Show Up and Hold the Line — No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!” Trump wrote on the social media platform X.
On Wednesday, November 20, Democrats confirmed two more judges by a 50-48 vote. Republican senators Ted Cruz and Mike Braun lacked sufficient support.
The issue was raised during the Republican Party lunch on Wednesday. Senators discussed whether there is a way to force Braun to resign and quickly find a replacement. Braun was elected Governor of Indiana in November.
“I am very angry – 90% of success in life is showing up. I've got a 4th Circuit nominee, and if my colleagues show up on my side, I've secured Democratic votes to defeat. That is very personal to me,” said Republican Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina.
Axios reminded that in the Senate, Republicans, along with their new Majority Leader, John Thune, are fighting for judicial nominations against the outgoing Democratic Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer.
On Monday, Thune unveiled a plan for aggressive defense against President Joe Biden’s final judicial nominees. Meanwhile, Schumer is prepared to overcome this defense with late-night and weekend votes.
Democrats' battle for judges in the Senate
Following the presidential elections on November 5, Republican candidate Donald Trump won by a large margin over Democrat Kamala Harris. Trump’s inauguration is set for January 20, 2025.
Additionally, on that day, Americans elected members of the House of Representatives and the US Senate. According to preliminary results, Republicans gained a majority in both chambers of Congress.
John Thune was appointed the new Republican Majority Leader in the Senate.
Last week, media reported that the Democratic majority in the US Senate had started rapidly confirming as many new federal judges as possible during the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s term.
