The relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans has reached a breaking point. Trump recently delayed the nomination of Jay Clayton to become national intelligence director, straining relations between the Senate and White House.
Policy Priorities
Trump appears to have lost interest in most of the GOP agenda and has become focused on his voting legislation to require proof of citizenship. Senate Republicans have criticized Trump’s agreement with Iran, with some calling it the ‘worst foreign policy blunder in decades’.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been up-front with Trump about what he can and cannot do in the Senate. Despite Trump’s pressure, Thune has told him that the votes are not there for the voting bill.
Consequences
The growing rift has brought much of the Senate’s business to a halt and put Republicans who are up for reelection this year on the defensive. Some Senate Republicans have become frequent critics of Trump, including Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Thom Tillis.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
