Senior Senate Republicans are incensed that Donald Trump could have put an end to a developing bipartisan agreement about the southern border, robbing them of a significant legislative victory on an urgent national issue and providing a sneak peek at what’s to come given Trump’s likelihood to be their nominee for president.
Trump’s Persistent Lobbying
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According to GOP sources familiar with the conversations, Trump has been pressuring Republicans in recent weeks to reject the delicately hammered out border compromise in the Senate. This is partly because he wants to campaign on the issue in November and doesn’t want President Joe Biden to win in a field where he is politically vulnerable.
Reps Warn Trump’s Opposition Could Blow up Bipartisan Proposal
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In a private meeting on Wednesday, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell said that Republicans are facing a difficult situation as they attempt to tackle the already intricate problem because of Trump’s distaste for the unreleased border agreement. Republicans have been warning for weeks that Trump’s resistance may derail the bipartisan agreement, but McConnell’s admission was especially startling because he has been a leading proponent of a package addressing the border with Ukraine.
Tensions and Confusion Sparks in the Senate GOP
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Republicans on Capitol Hill are currently attempting to deal with the fact that the majority of them would be reluctant to take any action that may be interpreted as possibly weakening the former President. Even though McConnell made it clear during party lunches on Thursday that he still firmly supports the effort to strike a deal, attendees said that the possibility of a deal being derailed before it has even been finalized has sparked tensions and confusion within the Senate GOP as they attempt to determine whether, and how, to proceed.
The Border Is a Very Important Issue for Donald Trump
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“I think the border is a very important issue for Donald Trump. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a vocal opponent of Trump, stated, “And the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is… really appalling.”
Let Me Take Credit for Solving It Later
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He went on, “But the reality is that, that we have a crisis at the border, the American people are suffering as a result of what’s happening at the border. And someone running for president not to try and get the problem solved, as opposed to saying, ‘Hey, save that problem. Don’t solve it. Let me take credit for solving it later.’”
No One Is Trying to Take This Away for Campaign Purposes
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Sen. Todd Young of the Republican Party of Indiana referred to any attempt to sabotage the current talks as “tragic” and stated, “I hope no one is trying to take this away for campaign purposes. I would encourage (chief Senate GOP negotiator) James Lankford and other conservatives to produce a work product with which they will shortly allow conservatives like myself to review it and take heart that there are a number of us who won’t be looking to third parties and assessing the propriety of passing this bipartisan proposal.”
An All-Too-Familiar Dynamic for the Republicans
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For Republicans who held office during Trump’s presidency, it was an all too familiar dynamic: with the blast of a single tweet, he could easily sabotage Capitol Hill legislative movement or spark a fresh issue to which Republicans had to respond. Republicans are preparing for life with Trump as the candidate once more as he advances toward the presidential nomination.
If It Weren’t for Donald Trump
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One GOP senator, speaking on background to CNN, emphasized the damage that Trump’s remarks and effort to kill the border compromise had caused in the Senate by saying that the proposal would have received overwhelming support from the conference had he not made them. The senator from Texas claimed that “this proposal would have had almost unanimous Republican support if it weren’t for Donald Trump.”
Would Trump Kill the Deal?
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Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the GOP and participant in the negotiations, stated he was unsure if Trump would be persuaded to keep the agreement intact. Though Tillis contended that it would eventually be advantageous for Trump for them to enact a border security pact and assist handle the flow of migrants seeking to enter the nation, he conceded that it would take some “courage” for members to be able to move ahead at this moment in spite of Trump.
Leave It to Him to Figure Out How He Needs to Get into Office
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Tillis remarked, “I think this is when members of the Senate have to show some courage and do something that at the end of the day will be very helpful for President Trump.” When asked if Trump’s criticism of this agreement was a mistake, Tillis responded, “I’ll leave it to him to figure out how he needs to get into office. I hope you’ll leave it to some of us who would support that effort to give him the tools he needs to really manage the border and the abuse and the dangerous situation we have today.”
We’re Still Working
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In response, McConnell—who has not spoken to Trump since the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021—played down the latter’s objections, stating that “it’s not anything new” and reaffirmed that the negotiations would not be abandoned. “We’re still working,” McConnell declared. “Trying to get an outcome.”
If We Can’t Get There, Then We’ll Go to Plan B
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The second-ranking Republican senator from South Dakota, Sen. John Thune, stated that the talks have reached a crucial point but that they could need to resort to a “plan B.” Thune declared, “If we can’t get there, then we’ll go to plan B […] But I think for now at least, there are still attempts being made to try and reach a conclusion that would satisfy a lot of Republicans.”
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