Nov 11, 2024 - Business
Senate majority leader fight shows power of X
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President-elect Trump intervened from Mar-a-Lago in this week's suddenly scrambled race for Senate majority leader, demanding that the candidates embrace using "recess appointments" to bypass Senate confirmation votes.
- All three of the candidates quickly saluted. The secret-ballot vote will be Wednesday.
Why it matters: It all played out in just a few hours on Elon Musk's X — a tiny taste of the platform's rising juice as Trump maps his new government.
How it happened: Here's how it unfolded, as reported in real time by Axios' Stef Kight:
- As we told you yesterday, MAGA media (including Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk) cranked up the pressure on Trump (who hasn't endorsed) and GOP senators to dump the two establishment frontrunners — Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas — and go with the MAGA choice, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.
- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a real contender for a top cabinet post, tweeted that he'd support Scott.
- Trump posted on Truth Social, then X: "Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner."
- Musk threw support behind Scott after the senator quickly agreed to Trump's demand on nominations.
- Within 2½ hours, all three candidates backed Trump's demand.
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