For nine long months, Senate Democrats have executed one of the most brazen obstruction campaigns in modern history: a blanket blockade of President Trump’s nominees. Not a single civilian nominee—no matter how qualified, no matter how bipartisan—has been allowed to pass by voice vote or unanimous consent, the way Senate business has traditionally been done for decades.
That ends this week.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed to Breitbart News that he has lined up the votes and taken the procedural steps to break the logjam. Beginning Thursday, the Senate will move to confirm 48 Trump nominees in one sweeping bloc. This first tranche includes uncontroversial picks like Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, along with dozens of others who cleared committee with bipartisan support.
Thune made it clear: this isn’t just about personnel, it’s about national security. “These are key positions that need to be filled,” he said. “We live in a dangerous world. We need representation in a lot of these key posts around the world today, and the Democrats have been blocking it now for going on nine months since the President took office. So it’s got to come to an end.”
It’s worth underscoring just how unprecedented this blockade has been. Even in the fiercest partisan climates, presidents have traditionally been allowed to assemble their teams. When Obama, Bush, and Clinton took office, the opposing party allowed ambassadors, deputies, and assistants through without drama, understanding that the government cannot function if every appointment is turned into a hostage situation.
Chuck Schumer and his caucus, driven by what Thune bluntly calls “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” decided to burn that precedent to the ground. The result? Empty desks, stalled missions abroad, and risks to America’s security.
But Thune, backed by all 53 Senate Republicans, has maneuvered around the blockade. He signaled this was only the beginning. After Thursday’s 48 nominees—each of them bipartisan—will come larger blocs to clear out the backlog. Schumer’s excuse that these are “historically unqualified” falls flat; as Thune pointed out, 24 of the 48 nominees had majority Democratic support in committee.
This isn’t about qualifications. It’s about politics.
And it’s backfiring. By forcing Republicans to change procedure and bulk-confirm nominees, Democrats have not only lost their leverage—they’ve exposed the pathological hatred of Trump that drives their obstruction. Instead of looking principled, they look petty and destructive.
