Trump nominations loom over Senate's cherished Munich trip
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Some 20 senators have their bags packed for the Munich Security Conference this weekend, but they are waiting on a final green light from Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) before heading to Andrews Air Force Base.
Why it matters: Thune has threatened to make the Senate work weekends before, but never with one of the year's most cherished CODELs hanging in the balance.
- In an email to senators, Thune warned they may have to stay in town to vote on President Trump's nominations on Friday, sources familiar with the matter told Axios.
- That would delay, and potentially cancel, their participation in the annual security conference, where many senators say that simply showing up is one of their most important messages. The conference runs from Friday to Sunday.
- Allies are eager for insight into how Trump and a Republican Congress will handle everything from the war in Ukraine to redeveloping the Gaza Strip.
The other side: "I'm trying to hold the plane hostage," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) joked to Axios.
- He thinks senators should stay and get more nominations done through Friday.
Zoom out: Senators love their CODELs. They especially love the Munich Security Conference, where they can have weisswurst and sweet mustard for breakfast and helles beer at lunch. Generals and heads of state mill about in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
- For Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who typically leads one of the larger delegations, it is an opportunity to take stock of what has worked and what hasn't.
- His message this weekend will be "to assess why deterrence failed and make sure that never happens again, to make sure that aggression is not rewarded in a fashion," Graham told Axios.
- He plans to introduce sanctions against Beijing that snap into effect if China invades Taiwan.
Zoom in: Trump has alarmed allies with his unorthodox approach to foreign policy, real estate diplomacy and land acquisitions — and sometimes all three.
- He has threatened significant tariffs on U.S. allies, offered to buy Greenland, make Canada the 51st state, turn Gaza into a "big real estate site" and proposed taking back control of the Panama Canal.
- Senators can expect some awkward questions from foreign leaders on all of the above.
The bottom line: When asked if she's prepared to answer questions on those topics, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said she will "let those speak for themselves."
- "The president obviously has a plan that he's working on, he is visiting with the leaders of many nations," she added. "So I would rather that he take the forefront."
- "I'm infuriated and frustrated by the administration's seeming surrender and betrayal of Ukraine," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) "I imagine that view will find a lot of friends among the Europeans who have committed so much to this fight."
