Republican senators, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, voiced frustration over absent colleagues that allowed Democratic judicial nominees to be approved. Discontent surged following Vice President-elect Vance's missed votes which enabled the confirmation of more than a dozen judicial nominees. Key figures such as Trump and fellow senators criticized the no-shows, attributing the losses to the absences. With Senate leadership focused on expediting nominations before the year ends, GOP members urged greater attendance, signaling a rising internal rift as the party braces for the transition of power.