The PresidentIn an outburst on Truth Social, Donald Trump demanded that Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley quickly abolish the Senate’s long-standing blue slip custom, which he claims is enabling Democrats to thwart his candidates for the judiciary and the US Attorney.
In a vehement post, President Trump accused Democrats of misusing the custom to delay the nomination of highly qualified judges and U.S. attorneys, calling it absurd and likely unconstitutional. Trump’s demand comes as the White House becomes increasingly irritated with the delays in confirming important nominees in states that are controlled by Democrats.
Trump noted that Chuck Grassley, whom he re-elected to the U.S. Senate after he was defeated by a significant margin in the Great State of Iowa, could resolve the Blue Slip issue with a single stroke of the pen. He called out a number of Democratic senators, including Adam Schiff, Cory Booker, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, and Chuck Schumer, as SLEAZEBAGS ALL for exploiting the rule to thwart nominees supported by the GOP.
By refusing to sign a blue slip form, home-state senators can essentially deny federal judicial nominations from their states under the blue slip tradition. Although it is not legally binding, the Senate Judiciary Committee has consistently upheld the regulation, which Trump now sees as a challenge to his presidential power.
He wrote that there is an old and likely unconstitutional CUSTOM that prevents the President of the United States from ever appointing the individual of his choosing. A weak and ineffectual Republican or a Democrat should be appointed in order to defeat this hoax.
Trump cautioned that the rule might compel him to make concessions on appointments in states with the greatest rates of crime and corruption, such as California, New York, Illinois, and Virginia. He said that the blue slip rule is allowing Democrats to mock the GOP’s inaction and that those jurisdictions are the ones that most need strong conservative nominees.
Trump said that Senator Grassley needs to take the initiative, just like Crooked Joe Biden did when he publicly broke the Blue Slip SCAM at least twice, and allow our great Republican judges and U.S. attorneys to be confirmed. He should take immediate action to stop the Democrats from mocking him and the Republican Party for their incompetence and weakness.
The president’s comments highlight a larger issue in his administration: his frustration with congressional rules, which he feels are being used as a weapon by Democrats. Citing Biden’s purported disrespect for the tradition as precedent, he demanded that Grassley do the same.
The regulation is still followed for district-level nominations, even though Trump already profited from inadequate blue slip enforcement during his first term in office, especially for appellate nominees under then-Chair Lindsey Graham. Trump, now in his second administration, is aiming for complete eradication.
JUST IN: President Trump’s request for him to expedite the judicial candidates has angered Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.
According to Grassley, precedent needs to be respected.
The president’s remarks offended me, and I’m sad that they would lead to personal jabs.
Unreal.
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July 30, 2025, Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh)
In a public response to the president’s demand, longstanding institutionalist Senator Grassley expressed his disappointment and offense that it led to personal insults. It remains to be seen if, under pressure from the White House, he will break with decades of Senate tradition.
Trump offered some words of encouragement as he concluded his tirade. Chuck, you have the courage to do this, so go ahead and do it!
The relationship between Trump and Grassley is complicated and characterized by both mutual gain and sporadic conflict.Trump lauded Grassley’s seniority, while he supported important Trump policies and judicial nominees.
Grassley has, however, occasionally upheld institutional independence, particularly during probes, which infuriated Trump when devotion fell short of his expectations.
