Donald Trump frequently addresses the American public via television, but have you ever been curious about his off-camera remarks? Well, some comments were unexpectedly caught on a hot mic.
On Monday, December 8, the president revealed plans for a substantial $12 million aid package aimed at supporting farmers adversely affected by trade issues. This announcement took place during a roundtable discussion at the White House, attended by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and other industry figures. The meeting was organized by the government to alleviate concerns about trade and tariffs.
However, what captured much of the internet’s attention were the hot mic comments made by Trump as journalists exited the event.
The controversial words caught on the hot mic were “blue slip.”
During these comments, the president lamented, “You know, I can’t appoint anybody. I can’t appoint anybody. Everybody I’ve appointed, their time has expired. Then they’re in default, then we’re losing.”
The statements have raised eyebrows, especially following the announcement that Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, would resign as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This decision came after a federal appeals court found that she had been serving unlawfully.
Trump criticized the Senate’s practice of not advancing nominees opposed by senators. His remark about ‘blue slips’ could heighten concerns due to his earlier criticisms of the nomination process. He stated, “You’ve got a blue slip thing that’s horrible. It’s a horrible thing. It makes it impossible to appoint a judge or a U.S. attorney. And it’s a shame. And the Republicans should be ashamed of themselves that they allow this to go on.”
In Congress, a “blue slip” allows a home state Senator to voice opposition or approval of a nominee. If a Senator has no objections, the slip is returned positively to the chairman. Conversely, they can return it with a negative response.
According to Congress rules, “The chairman of the committee has the discretion to determine the extent to which a home state Senator’s negative or withheld blue slip stops a President’s judicial nomination from receiving consideration by the committee and, consequently, whether it reaches the Senate floor.”
Previously, Trump described the process as ‘horrible’ and expressed his frustration: “I guess I just have to keep appointing people for three months and then just appoint another one, another one. It’s a very sad situation. We’re losing tremendous, we’re losing a lot of great people.”