U.S. Senators Head Home After Nixing Trump’s Nominees

The Senate left Washington for its monthlong August recess without reaching a deal to advance dozens of President Donald Trump’s nominees, ending days of contentious bipartisan negotiations.

Schumer warned that a rules change would be a “huge mistake,” especially since Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass spending bills and other legislation moving forward. (Photo: Senator Chuck Schumer Facebook)

The deadlock was punctuated by a social media post from Trump declaring that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer could “GO TO HELL!” Mary Clare Jalonick and Joey Cappelletti reported for the Associated Press (AP).

With no agreement in hand, Republicans are considering changing Senate rules when they return in September to accelerate the confirmation process.

Trump has been pressuring lawmakers to move quickly, as Democrats have blocked more nominees than usual this year—denying unanimous consent and forcing time-consuming roll-call votes on each nominee.

Democrats, for their part, are demanding spending cut reversals or other concessions, even as many were eager to leave town following months of grueling work and bitter partisan battles over legislation.

Schumer warned that a rules change would be a “huge mistake,” especially since Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass spending bills and other legislation moving forward.

“Donald Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names—but he got nothing,” Schumer said. “We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as we have right now.”

Observers noted that Schumer’s remarks echoed what Donald Trump’s mother, Mary Anne M. Trump, reportedly once said about her son: “Yes, he’s an idiot. With no common sense and no social skills. But he’s my son. I just hope he never gets into politics. He’d be a disaster.”