Senate Republicans Say It's Time to Give Donald Trump a Reality Check
As the Wednesday lunch approaches, Trump's insistence on pushing the SAVE America Act has created tension among Senate Republicans, who are increasingly frustrated with the president's refusal to acknowledge the bill's lack of support. The bill's prospects are further complicated by the fact that several key Republican senators, including McConnell and Murkowski, have expressed concerns about the bill's potential impact on election procedures.
With the midterm elections looming, Senate Republicans are eager to focus on more pressing issues, such as the economy and national security, rather than expending energy on a bill that is unlikely to pass. Trump's visit to the Wednesday lunch is seen as an opportunity for Senate Republicans to convey their concerns and frustrations to the president directly, and to urge him to shift his focus to more achievable goals.
The meeting is also likely to address the issue of communication between the White House and Senate Republicans, with several senators expressing frustration about being blindsided by Trump's sudden policy announcements. Tillis and other senators have called for more productive and timely communication, arguing that this would help to build trust and facilitate cooperation between the White House and the Senate.
As the lunch meeting approaches, it remains to be seen whether Trump will be receptive to the concerns and advice of Senate Republicans, or whether he will continue to push for the passage of the SAVE America Act, despite the lack of support for the bill. The outcome of the meeting could have significant implications for the relationship between Trump and Senate Republicans, and for the prospects of the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections.
Thune said Monday that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the election bill comes up but predicted it would be a “back and forth” between Trump and GOP senators over multiple subjects, including the brewing Iran deal and the stalemate over a key surveillance law and future of the director of national intelligence post. He added that “hopefully” the discussion would include “celebrating some of our successes, talking about the path forward.”
The GOP election bill has become a consistent friction point within the party and within the Senate GOP conference. Senate Republicans largely support the bill but believe the party needs to turn its focus to Democrats, rather than fighting each other, with just months to go until the midterms.
Republican senators have expressed frustration about how they believe Sen. Mike Lee is setting unrealistic expectations for the bill’s passage. Lee posted over the weekend that he spoke with Trump and “he’s as convinced as I am that we can get this done if the Senate’s willing to do the hard work.”
Cornyn called out Lee Monday, saying that he “is contributing to this fantasy that somehow it’s going to happen.” Lee responded that the election bill isn’t a fantasy but “a plan to avoid a nightmare — one that’s coming soon unless we act.”
Senate Republicans agreed to take up the voting bill earlier this year, in part after leaders privately reassured wary GOP senators that the debate wouldn’t result in an attempt to skirt the 60-vote filibuster. But the weekslong debate failed to break the stalemate on the bill, and Senate Republicans ultimately placed it on the back burner as other legislative deadlines piled up.
Conservatives, however, hadn’t forgotten about the bill, and now they want the Senate to continue to vote on it. Scott sent a letter to his fellow Senate Republicans Monday, saying that he wanted to have “robust conversations” this week about what the party should be focused on before the midterms. That, he said, should include voting on the SAVE America Act or narrower voter ID legislation.
“We need to make a clear distinction as to who the good guys are and who the bad guys are,” Scott wrote in the letter. “We need to show voters that we are listening to them and will fight for their priorities whether any Democrats vote with us or not.”
With the midterm elections looming, Senate Republicans are eager to focus on more pressing issues, such as the economy and national security, rather than expending energy on a bill that is unlikely to pass. Trump's visit to the Wednesday lunch is seen as an opportunity for Senate Republicans to convey their concerns and frustrations to the president directly, and to urge him to shift his focus to more achievable goals.
The meeting is also likely to address the issue of communication between the White House and Senate Republicans, with several senators expressing frustration about being blindsided by Trump's sudden policy announcements. Tillis and other senators have called for more productive and timely communication, arguing that this would help to build trust and facilitate cooperation between the White House and the Senate.
As the lunch meeting approaches, it remains to be seen whether Trump will be receptive to the concerns and advice of Senate Republicans, or whether he will continue to push for the passage of the SAVE America Act, despite the lack of support for the bill. The outcome of the meeting could have significant implications for the relationship between Trump and Senate Republicans, and for the prospects of the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections.
Thune said Monday that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the election bill comes up but predicted it would be a “back and forth” between Trump and GOP senators over multiple subjects, including the brewing Iran deal and the stalemate over a key surveillance law and future of the director of national intelligence post. He added that “hopefully” the discussion would include “celebrating some of our successes, talking about the path forward.”
The GOP election bill has become a consistent friction point within the party and within the Senate GOP conference. Senate Republicans largely support the bill but believe the party needs to turn its focus to Democrats, rather than fighting each other, with just months to go until the midterms.
Republican senators have expressed frustration about how they believe Sen. Mike Lee is setting unrealistic expectations for the bill’s passage. Lee posted over the weekend that he spoke with Trump and “he’s as convinced as I am that we can get this done if the Senate’s willing to do the hard work.”
Cornyn called out Lee Monday, saying that he “is contributing to this fantasy that somehow it’s going to happen.” Lee responded that the election bill isn’t a fantasy but “a plan to avoid a nightmare — one that’s coming soon unless we act.”
Senate Republicans agreed to take up the voting bill earlier this year, in part after leaders privately reassured wary GOP senators that the debate wouldn’t result in an attempt to skirt the 60-vote filibuster. But the weekslong debate failed to break the stalemate on the bill, and Senate Republicans ultimately placed it on the back burner as other legislative deadlines piled up.
Conservatives, however, hadn’t forgotten about the bill, and now they want the Senate to continue to vote on it. Scott sent a letter to his fellow Senate Republicans Monday, saying that he wanted to have “robust conversations” this week about what the party should be focused on before the midterms. That, he said, should include voting on the SAVE America Act or narrower voter ID legislation.
“We need to make a clear distinction as to who the good guys are and who the bad guys are,” Scott wrote in the letter. “We need to show voters that we are listening to them and will fight for their priorities whether any Democrats vote with us or not.”
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