Trump threatens lawsuit against Senate blue slip tradition

In the United States, President Donald Trump has recently intensified his criticism of the Senate's blue slip tradition, a longstanding practice that allows senators to block presidential nominees for federal judges and U.S. attorneys. This tradition, which has been in place for about a century, effectively gives home state senators power to approve or veto nominees from their states. Trump argued that the blue slip practice hinders his ability to appoint candidates by granting veto authority to opposing party senators, particularly affecting his nominations in states with Democratic senators. On August 26, 2025, Trump publicly threatened legal action against this Senate custom while expressing his frustrations during a press conference in the Oval Office. He labeled the blue slip process as an unconstitutional constraint on his executive powers, claiming it makes it virtually impossible for him to nominate suitable candidates for key judicial and prosecutorial roles. He highlighted that his administration's ability to confirm nominees has diminished significantly compared to his previous term. In his earlier term, Trump appointed 234 federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices, but reported that only five nominations have been confirmed within the first seven months of his current term. Trump's comments came amid heightened pressure on Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who has defended the blue slip tradition. Grassley insisted that the process is essential for maintaining balance and providing state input on judicial appointments. Trump's argument centers around how the blue slip process disproportionately affects Republican presidents when faced with Democratic senators in their states. Consequently, he expressed frustration that the only nominees he can effectively get confirmed are often Democrats. Grassley, however, contended that eliminating the blue slip would not necessarily aid Trump's nominations and could lead to unsuccessful outcomes for nominees lacking bipartisan support. This aspect of Senate verification has become a focal point for political debate as both parties engage in discussions over judicial appointments and executive authority roles.