Republican exposes GOP plot with 'sole purpose' to thwart Trump power play

Tea party Republican Thomas Massie (R-KY) posted on X that he believed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) would call the House and Senate into session to dodge recess appointments.

President Donald Trump can appoint individuals who cannot be confirmed by the Senate using the recess appointment process. The Constitution gives the president the ability to temporarily appoint someone to an office while the Senate is not in session.

Massie said the plan by the GOP leaders is "to call the House and Senate into session every four or five days, with practically no one there, for the sole purpose of preventing Trump from making recess appointments."

He noted that the "pro-forma" session that happened on Friday was a prayer, pledge of allegiance, and ultimately adjourned until Tuesday evening.

Political market researcher Anna Matson replied that it was "most likely so they have power to cut deals with Trump. We saw this with RFK Jr.'s confirmation."

"Many senators held out on their vote until Trump cut a deal," she recalled Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) as examples.

"With automatic confirmations, senators have less leverage," said Matson.

Massie noted that "checks out."