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President Donald Trump is set to meet with Senate Republicans on Wednesday amid escalating tensions over his legislative priorities and his relationship with Majority Leader John Thune. The closed-door luncheon comes as Trump pushes the SAVE America Act, a strict voter ID bill, despite lacking the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster. Source: AP News
Trump has grown tired of hearing 'no' from Thune, who has repeatedly said the voting bill cannot pass without eliminating the filibuster, a step Thune opposes. Source: CNN Trump fumed in private over Thune's refusal to jam the bill through, according to people familiar with discussions. Source: CNN Thune has also declined Trump's calls to fire the Senate parliamentarian. Source: CNN Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, praised Thune for 'telling the president the truth' about the lack of votes. Source: CNN
Beyond the voting bill, Trump has blocked confirmation of a nominee, pressed for funding of a White House ballroom project, and forced senators to defend his Iran war strategy. Source: AP News Retiring Sen. Thom Tillis called Trump's handling of the Senate a 'colossal mistake' and compared his moves to a moose startling a pack of sled dogs. Source: NPR Sen. Lisa Murkowski warned of 'chaos' when the president swerves without warning. Source: NPR
Several senators expressed hope the meeting would be 'conciliatory' and help align the party ahead of the midterms. Source: AP News Sen. Tommy Tuberville described it as a 'day of reckoning' to iron out differences. Source: CNN Cornyn stressed the need to 'get on the same page,' saying the current situation is 'dangerous.' Source: AP News
“Trump has been pushing the Senate to eliminate the filibuster and pass the legislation, known as the SAVE America Act, which would create strict new requirements for voters to prove citizenship and show voter ID at the polls.”
“Trump has fumed for months over Thune’s refusal to jam through a sweeping federal elections overhaul bill ahead of November’s midterms — a measure the president has argued is critical enough to warrant eliminating the filibuster if necessary.”
“As far as I can tell, John Thune is guilty of nothing except telling the president the truth, which is there are not the votes.”
“If we’re going to win the midterm elections, we need to get on the same page. We’re not on the same page now, and that I think is dangerous.”
“If some big distraction like a moose comes through these trees, and you got half the team going over here and half the team going over there, it is chaos.”
“Retiring Sen. Thom Tillis ... accused Trump of treating the Senate like a manufacturing department for the executive branch rather than its board of directors.”