Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) just finished a bruising week that left his relationship with President Donald Trump at a recent low point.Whether it gets worse will depend on how well Thune navigates the seemingly growing number of Republicans willing to buck Trump — and whether the president takes it personally if he can’t.Senate Republicans, on break for the Memorial Day recess, have the next week to cool off after a striking display of defiance that began with a rebuke over the war with Iran and finished with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche getting chewed out over a new $1.8 billion “lawfare” fund.
Four Republicans helped Democrats advance legislation to rein in Trump’s war powers, a high mark that means the measure could actually pass more than two months into the conflict with Iran.
A far larger number of Republicans appeared poised to deal Trump a setback related to the “lawfare” fund, part of a settlement between Trump and his Justice Department that Republicans fear will be used to compensate those convicted or accused of assaulting police at the 2021 Capitol riot.
Republicans are discussing everything from restricting who can access the funds to nullifying it altogether as part of an immigration enforcement bill the Senate will pick back up in June, and Thune is among the senators with concerns.
