Trump caught saying a concerning two-word comment as hot mic picks up president’s rant

ByP

President Donald Trump didn’t hold back his thoughts this week, and a hot mic captured more than he intended.

On December 8, he unveiled a $12 million support package designed to help farmers struggling with ongoing trade instability.

Trump was joined at a White House roundtable by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and other industry figures to address concerns about tariffs and trade policy.

However, what drew the most attention online wasn’t the meeting itself, but comments Trump made after the press was asked to leave. A hot mic picked up the phrase “blue slip,” along with his frustration about federal appointments.

“I can’t appoint anybody,” Trump was heard saying, noting that many of his appointees’ terms were expiring, leaving key roles unfilled.

The remarks came shortly after his former lawyer Alina Habba announced she would resign as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey following a court ruling that she had been serving unlawfully. Trump criticized the Senate’s use of “blue slips,” a tradition allowing home-state senators to approve or block nominees, calling the practice “horrible” and blaming it for delays.

He complained that the system makes filling positions nearly impossible and suggested he may have to repeatedly appoint temporary officials. “We’re losing a lot of great people,” he said, expressing frustration with the ongoing gridlock.