GOP Clash Deepens: Top Republican Senator Fires Back at Trump’s Public Rebuke Over Judicial Nominee Process

Trump’s Attack Sparks Outrage: Senator Grassley Says He’s ‘Offended’ by President’s Blue Slip Outburst

In a dramatic twist highlighting the deepening rift within the Republican Party, senior Senator Chuck Grassley publicly expressed his outrage after former President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack against him and fellow Senate Republicans over the controversial “blue slip” tradition.

Speaking during a judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday, Grassley didn’t hold back. The veteran Iowa lawmaker admitted he was “offended” by Trump’s remarks, calling them both surprising and personal. The comments came just hours after Trump took to Truth Social to blast the Senate GOP for continuing to honor the blue slip custom—a longstanding Senate practice that allows home-state senators to block judicial nominees from being confirmed.

Grassley said the former president’s post not only mischaracterized the tradition but also crossed the line with its harsh tone.
“I found the President’s remarks to be quite concerning,” Grassley expressed, noting, “In Real America, while some may not be familiar with the term blue slip, they certainly have a vested interest in who serves on the bench in their communities and who upholds the law.”

Despite Trump’s claim to have helped Grassley’s Iowa Senate re-election, his online comments hinted that he has yet to act. Trump said the blue slip system may have lost its usefulness, could raise constitutional difficulties, and is being used by Democrats to delay conservative court appointments.

 “Senator Grassley must step up,” Trump wrote. “He should do this IMMEDIATELY and not let Democrats laugh at the GOP for being weak.”

But Grassley wasn’t the only Republican pushing back. Senate Minority Whip John Thune also dismissed Trump’s demands, signaling no urgency to upend the blue slip system. Thune reminded critics that Republicans had stopped questionable selections under President Biden using the same process.

This growing conflict highlights a larger GOP struggle—a party still influenced by Trump but more divided on institutional values and leadership. Trump wants quick, radical changes, but Senate Republicans like Grassley are more wary about changing long-held traditions, especially when under fire.

This internal conflict could affect judicial appointments and Republican unity in the 2024 election.