Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa rebuked President Donald Trump’s remarks on “blue slips” and said Wednesday that he’s “offended” by Trump’s attack on him and “disappointed” by the personal insults.
Why It Matters
One day earlier, Trump urged Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, to abandon the “blue slip” tradition that allows senators to object to presidential judicial appointments.
Both senators from a nominee’s state receive a blue slip, which can be used to submit a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the nominee. Senators can also choose not to return the blue slip.
Associated Press
What To Know
In a Truth Social post, Trump complained that the process allowed senators to block his conservative judge nominees.
Trump wrote, in part, “Chuck Grassley, who I got re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down, by a lot, in the Great State of Iowa, could solve the ‘Blue Slip’ problem we are having with respect to the appointment of Highly Qualified Judges and U.S. Attorneys, with a mere flick of the pen. Democrats like Schumer, Warner, Kaine, Booker, Schiff, and others, SLEAZEBAGS ALL, have an ironclad stoppage of Great Republican Candidates.”
Grassley: I was surprised to see President Trump go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the blue slip… I was offended by what the President said, and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insults pic.twitter.com/dtL8sMQPVC
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 30, 2025
Grassley countered at a Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday: “I was surprised to see President Trump on Truth Social go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the blue slip.
“I was offended by what the president said and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insults,” Grassley said.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and representatives for Grassley for comment.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: “Senator Grassley must step up, like Crooked Joe Biden did, when he openly broke, at least two times, the ‘Blue Slip’ SCAM, and like others have done over the years, and let our Great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys BE CONFIRMED. He should do this, IMMEDIATELY, and not let the Democrats laugh at him and the Republican Party for being weak and ineffective. The Democrats have broken this ridiculous custom on us, it’s time that we break it on them. Chuck, I know you have the Courage to do this, DO IT!”
Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, at a Judiciary Committee hearing: “The people in real America don’t care about what the blue slip is, but in fact, it impacts in their states the district judges who serve their communities.”
What Happens Next
There are 48 judicial vacancies and eight nominees pending as of Wednesday, according to the United States Courts website.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
