Donald Trump announced on social media earlier this week that “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments. IMMEDIATELY!”The Washington Post reports, “What Trump’s asking is technically constitutional, experts say, but would be a stark abdication of powers on the part of the Senate. And it could be just the beginning of Trump’s effort to get what he wants out of a Republican Congress.”The Post also notes that in “in 2020, Trump threatened to force Congress to adjourn to make appointments without Senate approval.”READ MORE: New GOP senate leader is a former lobbyist who has taken aim at Social SecurityNow, experts say Trump pushing could be pushing for recess appointments “to send a message to Republicans in Congress: It’s Trump’s show, and they’ll have little to no input on what he wants to do these next four years.”Andy Craig, the director of election policy at the Rainey Center and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, offered analysis on social media for the ex-president’s unprecedented demands.He writes: “I’ll write more on this, but looking into it (zero precedents! it’s never been used!), I’m convinced the correct interpretation is the presidential adjournment power is *only* triggered if both houses pass adjournment resolutions specifying different dates. Not one house and the other does nothing.Craig continues, “Of course this insanity isn’t really a legal question so much as it is… well, whatever else. But I do think it matters to have fleshed out why Congress, or the Senate alone, would be constitutionally correct to say ‘no, we’re not adjourned’ and ignore any proclamation to the contrary. How and if the courts possibly get involved isn’t really the point. The answer is maybe, it depends what happens next. But we need to be clear this isn’t just insanely abusing a procedurally valid constitutional power, it would in fact be unconstitutional, completely null and void.”READ MORE: ‘Figure something else out’: Trump teases run for illegal 3rd term in meeting with House GOPNew York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie weighed in, commenting, “listen, the only way trump can force congress to adjourn if it is not already planning to adjourn is if he sends men with guns. and if that happens the game is already over.”
