Thune told senators they could confirm nominations the easy way or the hard way. (Reuters)
During his objection, Murphy said there were "serious concerns" from some Democrats about Trump's CIA pick John Ratcliffe. "I don't think it's too much to ask to make sure that we have a full, real debate that lasts two days on the Senate floor," he said.
The Connecticut Democrat notably previewed Trump's eventual second presidency over the summer. "There's a lot of anxiety in the country and in the party today, and that's because the stakes are so high," he said.
"That's because Donald Trump presents an existential threat to democracy. He has advertised he is going to transition this country from a democracy to a dictatorship," he claimed in a July appearance on CNN.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS STILL AT ODDS ON RECONCILIATION DEBATE AFTER TRUMP MEETING
Ratcliffe is Trump's choice to lead the CIA. (Getty Images)
"This can be easy or this can be hard."
Murphy foreshadowed this type of defiance while speaking to reporters last week.
"I think Republicans changed the rules here over the last two years," he said. "They used extraordinary powers to block nominees and to lengthen every process."
NEW OHIO AND FLORIDA SENATE-APPOINTEES SWORN IN AS VANCE AND RUBIO’S REPLACEMENTS
Murphy foreshadowed the move last week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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"The rules are different now, they changed the way the Senate works," he reiterated.
Thune took the necessary actions to tee up eventual votes on Ratcliffe, Trump's choice to lead the Department of Defense Pete Hegseth and his pick for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Since there is no agreement with Democrats to limit debate and bypass certain procedural votes, the nominations will not ripen for confirmation votes for more than a day.
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-who-called-trump-existential-threat-democracy-now-blocking-his-nominees