In a shocking development that has ignited fury among supporters of President Donald Trump, reports have surfaced alleging that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) are orchestrating a plan to block the President from making recess appointments during the upcoming congressional recesses. According to claims circulating on X, the two GOP leaders intend to hold pro-forma sessions every four or five days during the House’s 41-day recess and the Senate’s impending 30-day break, effectively preventing Trump from filling critical positions without Senate confirmation. If true, this maneuver would mark an unprecedented move in U.S. history—a political party actively undermining its own president’s ability to appoint nominees and judges. This blog explores the allegations, their implications, and the broader context of this apparent betrayal within the Republican Party.
The Allegations: A GOP Conspiracy Against Trump?
The claim, first amplified by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and echoed across platforms like X, suggests that Johnson and Thune are exploiting a procedural tactic known as “convene-and-adjourn” or pro-forma sessions. These brief, often perfunctory meetings, where little to no legislative business is conducted, are designed to keep Congress technically in session, thereby blocking the president from exercising his constitutional authority to make recess appointments. The Constitution’s Recess Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 3) allows the president to fill vacancies during Senate recesses, with appointees serving until the end of the next Senate session. By holding these pro-forma sessions, Johnson and Thune could prevent Trump from bypassing a Senate confirmation process that has been bogged down by delays.
Massie’s post on X, dated July 24, 2025, stated: “I see some people are excited @realDonaldTrump can make recess appointments to fill out his staff now that Congress has recessed for August. Bad news: @SpeakerJohnson and Leader Thune plan to convene-and-adjourn every 4 or 5 days to block Trump from making those appointments.” This claim was further amplified by President Trump himself on Truth Social, where he quoted Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and others, urging Republicans to either confirm his 135 pending nominees or allow recess appointments to clear the backlog. Trump wrote, “Republicans must play to win. Clear the 135. So badly needed!”
The outrage on X has been palpable, with users labeling the alleged actions as “treasonous” and accusing Johnson and Thune of colluding with the “DC swamp” to thwart Trump’s populist agenda. One user posted, “Mike Johnson & John Thune plan to convene-and-adjourn every 4 or 5 days to BLOCK Trump from making any recess appointments. Has a political party ever blocked its own President’s nominees and judges from being confirmed in American history? Answer: NO!” Another called the leaders “lower than sidewalk feces in San Francisco” for allegedly sabotaging Trump’s reforms.
Recess appointments have long been a tool for presidents to navigate Senate gridlock, particularly when opposition parties delay or block confirmations. Historically, presidents like Bill Clinton (139 recess appointments), George W. Bush (171), and Barack Obama (32) have used this power to fill critical roles, though typically for lower-level positions rather than Cabinet-level posts. Trump, facing a backlog of over 260 nominees, including 50 federal judges, has pushed for recess appointments to expedite his administration’s staffing, arguing that delays hinder his ability to implement his agenda.
The current situation is particularly contentious because the Republican Party controls both the House and Senate, with a 53-47 Senate majority. In theory, this should facilitate swift confirmations for Trump’s nominees. However, some GOP senators and House members, wary of Trump’s more controversial picks—such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services or Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence—may be reluctant to greenlight these appointments. Critics argue that Johnson and Thune’s alleged strategy reflects a deeper rift within the GOP, pitting establishment figures against Trump’s populist base.
The Other Side: Are Johnson and Thune Justified?
While the allegations paint Johnson and Thune as obstructing Trump’s agenda, there may be strategic or procedural reasons for their actions. The Senate’s “advice and consent” role is a cornerstone of checks and balances, and some argue that bypassing this process via recess appointments undermines democratic principles. Johnson has expressed hope that the Senate will “do its job,” suggesting he prefers traditional confirmations over recess appointments. Thune, meanwhile, has emphasized the need for Democratic cooperation to avoid such measures, noting that the Senate has confirmed 94 Trump nominees but faces resistance on others.
Critics of recess appointments, like Edward Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, argue that the tactic inflates executive power and could set a dangerous precedent. Johnson and Thune may also be wary of the political fallout from controversial nominees, which could harm the GOP’s image or electoral prospects. However, their alleged use of pro-forma sessions without public justification has fueled perceptions of disloyalty among Trump’s supporters.
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