Trump Pressures Senate for Recess Appointments Amid Confirmation Standoff

The White House has rejected President-elect Donald Trump's call for the Democratic Senate to halt judicial confirmations during the lame-duck period before the GOP takes control. Senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates emphasized the importance of maintaining the rule of law and preventing backlogs in the criminal justice system. Bates highlighted past precedents, noting that the GOP-led Senate confirmed numerous judges during Trump's first lame-duck period. Trump has suggested using recess appointments to bypass the confirmation process, criticizing Democrats for trying to push through judges.