Hawley Faces Backlash Over Pro Forma Senate Session Blocking Trump

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Josh Hawley presided over a brief pro forma Senate session on Tuesday morning. The procedural move prevented President Trump from making recess appointments. The action drew swift backlash from conservative voters.

The Senate convened at 8:00 a.m. No official business was conducted during the session ^[1]. The next pro forma session is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, at 3:30 p.m. ^[2]

Critics immediately took to social media to express frustration over the procedural move. Voters criticized the session for blocking the president’s agenda.

RINO of the Day award goes to Senator Josh Hawley of Mo.

He presided over today’s Pro-Forma session blocking President Trump from making any recess appointments.

I previously erroneously stated it was Senator Joni Ernst. She presided over the previous Pro-Forma session. pic.twitter.com/jfFHxgZloH

— Patriot One (@PatriotOne01) May 26, 2026

Other voters expressed anger that the establishment ritual was prioritized over the mandate of the recent election. They directed their disappointment directly at the Missouri senator.

“It means Americans are once again being told their landslide victory was meaningless because the Senate has ‘traditions,'” stated X user @luvgod ^[3].

The Senate will adjourn on the 28th until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1 ^[4]. At 5:30 p.m., the chamber will hold a cloture vote on the nomination of Kathleen Lane for a federal district judge position in Montana ^[5]. Cloture has also been filed for Jeffrey Kuhlman to be a district judge in Kansas ^[6].

AltonMo.com reached out to Senator Hawley’s office regarding his participation in the blocking of President Trump’s agenda and have received no reply.