Trump Rages at ‘Stupid and Outdated’ Blue Slip Rule Thwarting His Judicial Picks

Trump Rages at ‘Stupid and Outdated’ Blue Slip Rule Thwarting His Judicial Picks

David Gilmour Oct 17th, 2025, 8:00 am

Alex Brandon/AP

President Donald Trump raged through the night Thursday in two pointed social media attacks on the Senate’s long-standing “blue slip” tradition that he called “stupid and outdated.”

The president claimed the rule, which lets home-state senators effectively veto judicial and U.S. attorney nominees, is blocking eight of his “Highly Respected” Republican picks from confirmation and raged the careers of “GREAT people” were being “badly hurt.”

He accused Democrats of persuading Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to stick by the practice, which he said unfairly limits his ability to appoint allies. In August, Grassley had defended the prac