**Trump Pushes for Recess Appointments, Urges Blocking Biden's Lame-Duck Judicial Picks**

In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has urged Republican senators to leverage their upcoming 53-47 Senate majority to make recess appointments, bypassing the traditional confirmation processes. Posting on X, Trump called on any Republican seeking the majority leader position to endorse this strategy, emphasizing the urgency of filling positions. “We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!” Trump stressed in his post.

Trump also directed his party to obstruct any judicial nominations from the Biden administration during the current lame-duck session. “No Judges should be approved during this period of time,” he wrote, cautioning his party against Democratic efforts to fast-track judicial appointments while internal GOP leadership battles persist.

Trump’s call for recess appointments has sparked significant criticism. Georgetown University Law Professor Steve Vladeck pointed out the irony of urging the Senate to recess to bypass standard Senate confirmations, suggesting Trump wants to install officials who would otherwise not pass Senate scrutiny.

Elon Musk, who played a pivotal role in Trump’s past campaign and recently transformed X into a hotbed for misinformation, supported Trump’s stance. Musk even hinted at a new role in a future Trump administration, saying, “There is no other way,” and hinting at his potential appointment as "Secretary of Cost-Cutting."

Traditionally, presidents have used recess appointments to temporarily install acting cabinet members until a formal nomination can occur. However, Trump’s first term saw a record number of acting secretaries, and many positions remained vacant even with a Republican-controlled Senate.

Senator Rick Scott, contending for the majority leader role, quickly aligned with Trump’s proposal, stating he would expedite Trump’s nominations. Senator Marco Rubio has already thrown his support behind Scott. However, Trump has yet to publicly endorse a candidate for the majority leader position.

A potential obstacle for Trump’s plan is the Senate’s practice of holding pro forma sessions during recesses to block such appointments. Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio highlighted this historical tactic.

Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to use the lame-duck session to confirm as many judges as possible, despite Trump’s urging for opposition. This scenario is not unfamiliar; post his 2020 election loss, Trump made several lame-duck judicial appointments, most notably Judge Aileen Cannon, who presided over and dismissed his classified documents case.