President Donald Trump’s relationship with Senate Republicans has reached a breaking point due to disagreements on policy and nominations. Trump recently delayed the nomination of Jay Clayton to become national intelligence director, which further strained relations between the Senate and the White House.

Trump’s Demands

Trump has been pressuring Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship for voting. However, Thune has told Trump that the votes are not there to pass the bill. Trump has also asked Congress to fund parts of his White House ballroom project and to allow a temporary intelligence director, which has been met with resistance from Senate Republicans.

Some Senate Republicans, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Thom Tillis, have publicly criticized Trump’s actions, with Cassidy calling Trump’s deal to end the Iran war a ‘foreign policy blunder.’ Despite the criticism, there are no signs of a revolt within the GOP conference, and Thune has managed to maintain a working relationship with Trump.

Internal Tensions

The rift between Trump and Senate Republicans has also stoked internal tensions within the party. Some Republican senators have criticized Sen. Mike Lee for his online campaign to eliminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act. Lee has been accused of stoking dissension within the party, but he has continued to push for the bill’s passage.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.