President Donald Trump is once again taking on Washington’s swamp creatures—and this time, the target is not just Democrats, but two so-called Republicans who are standing in the way of one of his key appointments.
In a fiery Truth Social post this week, Trump torched Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for bowing to Democrat Cory Booker and refusing to advance the nomination of Alinna Habba as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Habba has already been serving in an acting role, where she’s made waves for cracking down on crime, illegal immigration, and gang violence. But because of a Senate “blue slip” tradition, her confirmation is stalled—and Trump is making it clear he’s had enough.
The blue slip rule, an old and informal Senate courtesy, allows home-state senators to effectively veto judicial or federal attorney nominations by withholding a slip of paper signifying approval. While Democrats have ignored the practice whenever it suited them—including Joe Biden himself—Republicans like Grassley continue to cling to it, effectively handing Democrats veto power over Trump’s nominees.
Trump blasted the absurdity of the situation:
“I have a Constitutional Right to appoint Judges and U.S. Attorneys, but that RIGHT has been completely taken away from me in States that have just one Democrat United States Senator.”
The president didn’t mince words when it came to Grassley, pointing out the hypocrisy of Democrats who regularly toss out Senate traditions while Republicans tie themselves in knots to uphold them.
“This is because of an old and outdated ‘custom’ known as a BLUE SLIP, that Senator Chuck Grassley, of the Great State of Iowa, refuses to overturn, even though the Democrats, including Crooked Joe Biden (Twice!), have done so on numerous occasions,” Trump said.
The result? Trump warned that unless Republicans grow a spine, Democrats will have the power to dictate who fills critical U.S. attorney positions—even in a Republican administration.
“Therefore, the only candidates that I can get confirmed for these most important positions are, believe it or not, Democrats!”
Trump’s conclusion was blunt:
> “Chuck 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!”
For her part, Habba isn’t backing down either. Appearing on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo, she defended her record in New Jersey and called out the political games being played.
“In June alone, we arrested over 300 criminals, illegals, rapists,” Habba explained. “What is so bad about that work? The truth is, it has nothing to do with the crime that we’re stopping. It has to do with trying to prevent President Trump from continuing his agenda, and it has to stop.”
Habba also had sharp words for the RINOs standing in the way of her nomination.
“To Senator Tillis and Senator Grassley, you are becoming part of the issue,” she said. “It is not just about me, it is about U.S. attorneys across the country that just want to do right by Americans that voted for President Trump.”
The fight over Habba’s nomination is about more than one position in New Jersey. It’s about whether the America First movement will be allowed to enforce the law, secure communities, and restore justice—or whether weak Republicans will continue caving to Democrat obstruction.
