Trump Says Neither George Washington Nor Abraham Lincoln Would Survive Dems’ Confirmation Circus

President Donald Trump attacked Senate Democrats on Thursday for slow-walking nominees to serve in his administration.

“This is what the Democrats are doing to our Nation!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, sharing a graphic showing that in his second term, none of Trump’s civilian nominees have been approved by either voice vote or unanimous consent.

The graphic compares Trump’s second term to his first, in which 65% were fast-tracked for approval. The graphic also shows stats for former Presidents Joe Biden (57%), George W. Bush (90%), George H. W. Bush (98%), Bill Clinton (98%), and Barack Obama (90%).

“They are refusing to approve some of the best Nominees in the History of our Country. If we had George Washington and Abraham Lincoln lined up, they would do everything in their power to delay and disapprove,” Trump continued. “This should never be allowed to happen, and it has never happened before!”

The graphic came from the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who used the chart as a prop on Thursday while knocking Democrats in a speech on the Senate floor. Thune said that at the current pace Republicans are forced to work to confirm Trump’s nominees, the president’s administration will not be filled by the time he leaves office.

The current backlog on executive nominees is about 1,100, according to Thune.

“This isn’t sustainable. We can’t keep on this track,” said Thune. “This has got to change – and it will change. Either Democrats are going to play ball, or we’re going to figure out a way to change it.”

“I hope that my Democratic colleagues will come to the table. Otherwise, we’re going to be spending a whole lot more time here on the Senate floor,” he said.

We have a lot of bipartisan nominees available for consideration right now.

I hope that my Democrat colleagues will come to the table, otherwise we’re going to be spending a whole lot more time here on the Senate floor. pic.twitter.com/zLgymMc6tC

— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) July 31, 2025

Trump and Thune’s attacks on Democrats come after the president on Tuesday pushed Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, to scrap the committee’s “blue slip” tradition to speed up the confirmation process for Trump’s judicial nominees. Customarily, a judicial nominee must receive approval from both senators of the state where the nominee would serve before the nomination can move through committee.

“Chuck Grassley, who I got re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down, by a lot, in the Great State of Iowa, could solve the ‘Blue Slip’ problem we are having with respect to the appointment of Highly Qualified Judges and U.S. Attorneys, with a mere flick of the pen,” said Trump in a Truth Social post. “Democrats like Schumer, Warner, Kaine, Booker, Schiff, and others, SLEAZEBAGS ALL, have an ironclad stoppage of Great Republican Candidates.”

Grassley’s office has said the senator has no plans to toss the custom aside for the president. 

“I was offended by what the President said, and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insult,” Grassley said at the start of a committee meeting earlier this week.