President Donald Trump received a blow on Tuesday as it became clear both of North Carolina's Republican senators are set to reject a nominee from that state for Ambassador for International Religious Freedom.
Former Rep. Mark Walker, a pastor who previously served as vice chair of the House Republican Conference, appears to be opposed by both Sen. Ted Budd and Sen. Thom Tillis. Under Senate traditions, nominees need the approval of both home state senators, a process known as the "blue slip."
"Very bad news for Mark Walker. Both of his home-state senators appear to be opposed to Trump nominating him for Ambassador for international religious freedom at State," wrote NBC News' Scott Wong in a post to X. "'I’ve made it clear that I’m supporting @SenTedBuddNC. I actually think we’re reaching a point, too, where the position has been open for the better part of a year,' @SenThomTillis told McClatchy. 'We should look for another nominee, with all due respect to Mark Walker.'"
This comes as Walker has taken to social media to personally make the case for his nomination.
“President Trump prioritized this post, because he prioritizes religious freedom,” wrote Walker, per The News & Observer. “Many have reached out for help and my being delayed from fighting for people imprisoned, tortured and killed simply for their faith has been frustrating.”
It also comes as Trump has grown increasingly enraged with the blue slip procedure, which has also blocked him from confirming a number of controversial U.S. attorney nominees.
“’Blue Slips’ are making it impossible to get great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys approved to serve in any state where there is even a single Democrat Senator," Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. "If they say no, then it is OVER for that very well qualified Republican candidate. Only a really far left Democrat can be approved. It is shocking that Republicans, under Senator Chuck [Grassley], allow this scam to continue.”
