President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
When asked if any headway had been made, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital, "Unfortunately, not really, no."
"The Dems are dug in on a position that's just not working," he said.
Negotiations have been ongoing among Republicans, Democrats and the White House. Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met last night to discuss an offer from Democrats. The two have not spoken directly since then, instead communicating through intermediaries, Thune said. However, he expected they would talk again later Saturday.
Senate Republicans want to strike a deal that would see nominees that made it through committee with bipartisan support get lightning-fast votes on the floor, but Schumer has not relented.
SENATE GOP EYES RULES REVOLT AS DEMS STONEWALL TRUMP NOMINEES
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol during the vote-a-rama on President Trump's "big beautiful bill" reconciliation package on June 30, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
While Republicans have confirmed well over 100 of the president’s nominees, the only pick to make it to the floor without objection was Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Not a single one of Trump’s nominees has gotten a voice vote or gone through unanimous consent, two floor actions that have been routinely used to advance nominees in the upper chamber throughout the years. At this point four years ago, 49 of former President Joe Biden’s picks had been confirmed by voice vote.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., explained that Republicans have three options that they have enough support among the conference to move forward with: reach a deal with Democrats; adjourn the Senate and give the president runway for recess appointments and finally, a rules-change package, which some Republicans consider the "nuclear option."
On recess appointments, a move floated since before Trump took office, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., contended it would be up to Democrats whether Republicans actually went through with it.
"The Democrats’ obstruction is leading to, in very short order, us taking the necessary actions to give the President power to make recess appointments," he said.
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While it would be a touchy move that would set off a firestorm among Democrats, Republicans aren’t afraid to move ahead with a rules change. When asked if a rule change should be done before lawmakers leave town, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said "I think that’d be best."
But the preference is to strike a deal, preferably on a potential package on over 60 nominees that were advanced out of committee in a bipartisan fashion.
"The reason why we're that way is because Schumer led us down this road," Mullin said. "He didn't have to do it this way."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-dig-in-trump-demands-all-nominee-fight-boils-over-senate-gop-looks-deal