Donald Trump is angry at one of his own. He wants full control over his picks for U.S. attorneys and judges. But Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa is not giving in.
At the center of the fight is a Senate tradition called the blue slip. For more than 100 years it has given home state senators the power to approve or block nominees for district judges and U.S. attorneys. Grassley says the rule protects the Senate and gives Republicans real power. Trump says it is outdated and unfair.
On his Truth Social page, Trump attacked Grassley with rage. He wrote that the blue slip has “completely taken away” his constitutional power in states with even one Democratic senator. He complained that the only people he can get confirmed are Democrats. In one post he shouted that Grassley should “allow strong Republican candidates to ascend to these very vital and powerful roles, and tell the Democrats, as they often tell us, to go to HELL!”
Grassley answered back on X. He said a nominee without a blue slip does not have the votes to get confirmed on the Senate floor or even to leave committee. “As chairman I set Pres Trump noms up for SUCCESS NOT FAILURE,” he wrote.
A U.S. Atty/district judge nominee without a blue slip does not hv the votes to get confirmed on the Senate floor & they don’t hv the votes to get out of cmte
As chairman I set Pres Trump noms up for SUCCESS NOT FAILURE
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 25, 2025
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In another post he defended the tradition again, saying Republicans already used it to keep 30 liberal judges off the bench during the Biden years.
The 100 yr old “blue slip” allows home state senators 2 hv input on US attys & district court judges In Biden admin Republicans kept 30 LIBERALS OFF BENCH THAT PRES TRUMP CAN NOW FILL W CONSERVATIVES
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 25, 2025
The fight grew even hotter after a court ruling last week against one of Trump’s most loyal allies. A federal judge said Alina Habba, Trump’s lawyer and his choice for U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, had been serving unlawfully. Her appointment violated federal law on temporary posts. New Jersey senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim refused to support her, and her nomination paperwork never reached the Senate.
Habba went on Fox News to blast the ruling. “I am the pick of the president. I am the pick of Pam Bondi, our attorney general. And I will serve this country like I have for the last several years in any capacity,” she declared. She also accused Grassley of blocking Trump’s agenda by holding up a “traditional blue slip, not a law.”
Grassley pushed back again, pointing out that Habba was withdrawn as a nominee in July and never even went through the Senate process.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab