Across X and conservative media, outrage is exploding over pro forma Senate sessions — those 30-second gavel-ins that appear to deliberately block President Donald Trump from making recess appointments.
“Disgusting.” “Betrayal.” “RINO.” and “Primary them.”
DISGUSTING! Missouri Senator JOSH HAWLEY Gavels in Pro-Forma Session to Block Trump from Making Recess Appointments
READ: https://t.co/eaiqh4IVZR pic.twitter.com/KcSOhm6G4C
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) June 4, 2026
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley took the heaviest fire after gaveling one in the day after Memorial Day. Senators James Lankford and John Hoeven were also hammered for doing the same during the Fourth of July recess. Since Trump’s second term began, more than 30 GOP senators have presided over these empty procedural sessions, convincing many in the base that the GOP Senate is choosing “tradition” over Trump’s mandate.
But one of Trump’s strongest allies in the Senate says the real story is being missed.
In an exclusive interview with The Gateway Pundit, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-MO, revealed that Senate Republicans quietly changed the rules early in Trump’s second term to smash Democratic obstruction — and insists the pro forma sessions are not stopping Trump’s appointments.
Schmitt said:
When the Democrats were blocking the appointments…we actually changed the rules. So, we can do en bloc appointments now.
It used to be, you had to do one by one. Democrats were dragging that out, and you had a record low number of appointments. Now because we changed the rules to do the en bloc appointments, we are actually ahead of pace than President Trump’s first term…We are getting those nominations through. So, it’s a different process now — we changed the rules. We were… anticipating the Democrats’ obstructionism. We… accounted for that and I think that’s a good development.
No, no. I get it. As one of President Trump’s closest allies, the last thing we want to do is hold up his appointments. So, we are moving forward.
WHAT ARE THESE PRO-FORMA SESSIONS?
They are brief, often seconds-long meetings where one senator gavels in and out with zero business conducted. The move keeps the Senate technically “in session,” blocking the president’s constitutional power to make recess appointments. Democrats weaponized this tactic for years. Now, even with Republicans in full control, the practice continues — triggering a firestorm from the Trump base.
Voters see senators on long recesses while critical nominees sit idle and deep state holdovers remain entrenched.
‘WE’RE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE’
The Missouri senator says the shift to en bloc, batch confirmations has Trump’s nomination pace ahead of his first term; Republicans are not sabotaging the President— they’re outmaneuvering the opposition.
Whether this explanation cools the fury remains to be seen.
Congress as a whole and the Senate specifically continue to face deeply negative public views. As of July 16, 2026, Ballotpedia’s polling index showed congressional approval at 26% approve/58% disapprove.
Other polls have been even worse, including an Economist/YouGov poll that found 15% approval/66% disapproval.
In that toxic environment, the backlash over pro forma sessions has hit a raw nerve with the GOP base.
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