Trump's Fight Against Senate Obstacles

How Two Bold Tactics Could Secure His Cabinet

By all accounts, Trump will face significant difficulty in getting his Cabinet appointees confirmed by the narrowly divided Senate, prompting his team to explore two key alternative tactics: using JD Vance's role as President of the Senate to take control of the chamber, or invoking Trump's constitutional authority to adjourn Congress, allowing for recess appointments. The Republican margin in the Senate stands at a slim 51-49, but multiple Republicans—like Senators Romney and Collins—have already indicated they will oppose at least two of Trump’s appointees, Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. These senators are actively ignoring the mandate given to Trump by the American people, putting their own interests and disdain for Trump above the clear choice of the electorate.

Trump has every right to choose his own team based on the mandate he received from voters. To overcome the opposition from within his own party, his team is exploring two key alternatives to ensure his Cabinet members can take office: using JD Vance's role as President of the Senate to take control of the chamber or invoking his constitutional authority to adjourn Congress, which would allow for recess appointments.

The First Idea: JD Vance as President of the Senate

The first idea involves JD Vance, acting as President of the Senate, taking unprecedented control over Senate procedures. This concept, supported by conservative figures like Glenn Beck, draws inspiration from Thomas Jefferson’s historical influence over the Senate during his time as Vice President. Jefferson helped establish many of the procedural norms still in use today, and the hope among some Trump supporters is that Vance could take similar control to push Trump’s agenda forward.

While this idea is certainly bold and appealing, the reality is that Jefferson’s influence also created many of the rules that make such a move by Vance nearly impossible today. The Senate’s current rules prevent the President of the Senate from wielding that level of control without changing the rules - a move that would require a minimum of 51 votes. Given that Trump cannot rely on 51 votes even to confirm his appointees, expecting the Senate to change its rules to allow JD Vance to seize control is unrealistic.

Furthermore, even if Vance were to attempt to refuse recognition of the current Majority Leader and instead recognize a senator more favorable to Trump, any ruling by the presiding officer can be appealed and overturned by a majority vote in the Senate. Senators can formally appeal the presiding officer's ruling, and any decision made by the Vice President can be challenged. This appeal is then put to a majority vote, effectively overriding the Vice President if the majority agrees. A concerted effort to appeal every controversial ruling would create a procedural hurdle for Vance, making it difficult to bypass the Majority Leader without facing substantial backlash.

Additionally, the Senate could adopt a formal rule stipulating that the Majority Leader or their designee must be recognized first. While this tradition is currently unwritten, it could be codified into a formal rule, making it enforceable. Rule changes only require a simple majority, meaning that if the Majority Leader has enough support, this change could significantly curtail the Vice President's flexibility in recognizing senators.

Moreover, senators opposed to Vance's tactics could use filibusters, holds, or other delay tactics to prevent legislative actions seen as bypassing Senate norms. While these tactics might not directly limit Vance's actions, they could effectively stall proceedings until traditional recognition practices are restored or an agreement is reached.

The idea of Vance taking control sounds great in theory, but in practice, it is fraught with procedural obstacles such as appeals to the full Senate, potential rule changes, and the use of filibusters or delay tactics, all of which would likely make it unworkable.

The Second Idea: Adjournment of Congress

The second idea, however, has a far better chance of succeeding. Under Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, Trump has the authority to adjourn Congress if the House and Senate cannot agree on a time of adjournment. This power has never been used before, making this strategy unprecedented. Nonetheless, Trump, ever willing to break new ground, has hinted that he may be prepared to invoke it.

During one of Trump's rallies, he made a cryptic reference to a “secret” he shares with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, which may well involve orchestrating an adjournment of Congress. Here’s how it could work: Speaker Johnson would formally request adjournment on behalf of the House, and the Senate, under the leadership of Majority Leader John Thune, would refuse the request. This disagreement would enable Trump to invoke his constitutional power to adjourn both chambers.

Once Congress is adjourned, Trump could use his recess appointment powers to install Gaetz, Hegseth, and other appointees, completely bypassing the Senate confirmation process. The beauty of this move is that it only requires cooperation from Speaker Johnson circumventing the obstruction from the so-called “RINOs” within the Senate GOP.

Trump has a clear mandate from the American people to govern and implement his vision, and he has every right to install the team of his choosing. The entrenched opposition within both parties is merely an attempt by the Uniparty establishment to keep their grip on power. Senate Republicans must rally behind their leader and honor the will of the voters, rather than obstructing Trump’s efforts to fulfill his promises. Should they fail to support him, Trump is fully justified in using every constitutional tool available to overcome these barriers, including recess appointments, adjournment of Congress, or procedural maneuvers through JD Vance.

Ronald Reagan once wisely noted, “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” Senate Republicans should take this to heart, especially now. Trump’s vision aligns with the core values of the party, and their opposition only serves to empower the far-left agenda. Instead of focusing on minor disagreements, Senate Republicans must recognize the bigger picture—supporting Trump means advancing the conservative principles that the American people voted for. Unity at this crucial juncture is essential to push back against those who would undermine the President's mandate. Whatever minor differences they may have with Trump, those differences pale compared to the ideological divide that separates them from the radical left agenda of the modern Democratic Party. Now is the time for loyalty, bold action, and unity. By supporting Trump, Senate Republicans can make the more drastic measures unnecessary—measures that, though constitutional, would push the boundaries of modern governance.

The Senate now holds the fate of the Republic in its hands. Will they honor the mandate given to Trump by the American people, or will they force the President to take unprecedented action to ensure his team can move forward with the agenda America voted for?

If you don't already, please follow me on 𝕏 at https://x.com/amuse