Trump jolts contest for Senate majority leader ahead of secret ballot

Donald Trump has jolted the contest for Senate majority leader in an initial test of his authority, demanding the winner allow him to make cabinet selections without Senate approval.

Donald Trump is aiming to bypass the Senate confirmation process for his top cabinet selections in a potential expansion of presidential authority, demanding the new Republican Senate leader replacing Mitch McConnell agrees to fast-track his key appointments.

The president-elect posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday (Monday AEDT) what is widely being seen as a loyalty test for those vying for the job after the Republicans claimed the Senate in last week’s decisive election victory.

“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Mr Trump wrote.

“Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”

The demand follows Mr Trump’s earlier public clarification that he would not invite either former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley or former secretary of state Mike Pompeo to join his administration – widely interpreted as another sign he was prioritising loyalty.

Late on Sunday he announced New York congresswoman and Trump supporter Elise Stefanik as his choice for ambassador to the UN.

The insistence on recess appointments would represent a break with standard practice and comes ahead of a planned meeting between Mr Trump and President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), where both men are expected to discuss the global outlook in ­Europe – including Ukraine – Asia and the Middle East.

Florida senator Rick Scott emerged at the weekend as the leading frontrunner for the role of Senate majority leader – with a ­secret ballot for the job scheduled for Wednesday – after he swiftly backed in Mr Trump’s demand for recess appointments.

He posted on social media: “100 per cent agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”

Tech titan Elon Musk threw his public support behind Senator Scott, as did Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Republican senators Rand Paul, Bill Hagerty and Marco Rubio.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Senator Scott said “we have got to change the way the Senate is run to get Trump’s agenda done.”

“No 1, you’re going to have to make sure you get his nominees done,” Senator Scott said. “No 2, to get the legislation done ... you’ve got to figure out how you bring people together.”

However, Senator Scott also said it was likely that Mr Trump’s sweeping tariffs would “most likely” require 60 votes in the Senate “unless there’s some way we can get that done through reconciliation with 51 (votes).”

Under the US constitution, the president and the Senate share the power to make appointments to federal departments but when the Senate is in recess, the president is empowered to make “recess appointments”. They have usually been seen as a last-resort option for presidents to install nominees in the face of Senate hostility.

Others in the race for the majority leadership include South Dakota senator John Thune and Texas senator John Cornyn, with both men signalling their openness to Mr Trump’s desire for recess appointments.

Following Mr Trump’s intervention on Sunday, Senator Thune said on social media “we must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, & all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments.”

“We cannot let Schumer and Senate Dems block the will of the American people.”

Senator Cornyn said it was “unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump’s cabinet appointments”.

“If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the constitution expressly confers the power on the president to make recess appointments,” he said.

Mr Trump also warned the Democrats – for the remaining period of their control over the Senate – that “no judges should be approved during this period of time”, declaring it “NOT ACCEPTABLE.”

The Republicans are set to have a 53-47 margin in the Senate and are on track to win the house – giving them a triple victory from the 2024 elections.