The unavoidable clash between President Donald Trump’s self-serving and chaotic governance and Republicans’ political survivalism has arrived.
Trump has largely disregarded his plunging approval ratings and polls that increasingly show Democrats winning the 2026 midterms by as much as double digits. He’s pressed forward with politically dubious initiatives like the Iran war, his coveted ballroom and now a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that could, by the administration’s own admission, reward people who assaulted police.
This week, he also endorsed Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton over an incumbent senator, despite fears that the baggage-laden Paxton could cost the GOP a key seat in November — and even, however unlikely, the Senate majority.
Apparently even the ever-servile congressional Republicans have a breaking point.
After pushing back on the new “anti-weaponization” fund with unusual gusto this week — “stupid on stilts,” “unexplainable” and “utterly stupid, morally wrong” were some of the choice words — Senate Republicans left town Thursday with Trump’s immigration enforcement bill in limbo over the issue.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has subtly acknowledged a real rift in the relationship between the White House and the congressional GOP. Trump on Thursday didn’t dispute the premise that he might be losing control of the Senate GOP, and on Friday he issued a pair of defensive posts about the fund and his status with Senate Republicans.