Grassley laments Trump attacks over Senate blue slips

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Wednesday expressed frustration with President Donald Trump for his calls to eliminate the Senate practice of blue slips, the concept of permitting senators from a state to essentially veto appointments to their own constituencies.

Trump, for his part, singled out Grassley on Tuesday for not eliminating the practice, saying he could do so "with a mere flick of the pen." He further argued that the practice meant that he could never appoint anyone effective to blue states, where he believed they were most needed.

“Last night I was surprised to see President Trump on Truth Social go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the blue slip," he said, according to The Hill. “I was offended by what the president said, and I’m disappointed it would result in personal insults."

The issue has gained attention amid Trump's call for the Senate to fully recess to allow for recess appointments. 

"Put simply, the President of the United States will never be permitted to appoint the person of his choice because of an ancient, and probably Unconstitutional, 'CUSTOM,' that if you have, even one person in the opposite Party serving in the U.S. Senate, he/she must give consent, thereby completely stopping the opposite Party’s Nomination," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"The only way to beat this Hoax is to appoint a Democrat or, a weak and ineffective Republican," he added. "Therefore, I would never be able to appoint Great Judges or U.S. Attorneys in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, and other places, where there is, coincidentally, the highest level of crime and corruption — The places where fantastic people are most needed!"