US President Donald Trump has triggered new friction inside his own party. This came after demanding lawmakers pass a sweeping $350 billion defense and election security package. The call, issued midweek, is the latest test of Republican unity ahead of the November midterm elections.
Republicans reportedly split over Donald Trump’s call to pass $350 billion bill
Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday, instructing congressional Republicans to “immediately” launch a third budget reconciliation push. The process would let the GOP bypass Democratic opposition, but it requires near-total party discipline that looks increasingly out of reach.
The president wants the legislation to deliver a “GENERATIONAL Investment in our Military” while also carrying the stalled Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act. “No games, no delays, and no weak compromises!” he wrote. “Do this ASAP.” The request landed just hours after Trump signed the Republicans’ second reconciliation bill into law. That measure provides $70 billion for immigration enforcement. Their first, last year’s “big, beautiful bill,” focused on tax cuts.
Despite the momentum, many Republicans remain skeptical. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the mood within his conference. “You’ve got to have something that you can win on,” he said. “And you’ve heard some of our folks already express their views on another reconciliation bill.”
The calendar is central to the problem. With only a handful of legislative workweeks left before the midterms, GOP leaders doubt they can thread the needle. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana described the path. “I think it’s a very, very long shot that anything passes between now and the midterms,” he said. “It gives me heartburn to say that, but I think that’s political reality.” On the substance, opposition is building from multiple directions.
(Source: Fox News)
