{"id":2606959,"date":"2026-05-26T13:21:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T17:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-faces-rough-patch-with-trump-as-senate-frustrations-boil-over\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T13:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T17:22:26","slug":"thune-faces-rough-patch-with-trump-as-senate-frustrations-boil-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-faces-rough-patch-with-trump-as-senate-frustrations-boil-over\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune faces rough patch with Trump as Senate frustrations boil over"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-faces-rough-patch-with-trump-as-senate-frustrations-boil-over%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2606959&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune has just gone through a tense week with President Donald Trump, leaving their relationship at a low point.The strain is tied to growing Republican resistance to Trump in multiple fights-especially over immigration-related funding and a new $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thom-tillis-claps-back-at-trump-over-stupid-stuff-hurting-gop\/\" title=\"Thom Tillis claps back at ... over \u2018stupid stuff\u2019 hurting GOP\">8 billion \u201clawfare\u201d fund<\/a> tied to a DOJ settlement.<\/p>\n<p>While several Republicans backed democrats\u2019 effort to limit Trump\u2019s war powers over Iran, a larger conflict is brewing around whether and how the \u201clawfare\u201d payments should move forward, with Thune among those expressing concerns. The backlash was strong enough that a related immigration enforcement vote was delayed.<\/p>\n<p>the disputes reflect a wider breakdown of collaboration: Trump has blamed Thune for not securing enough votes for the stalled SAVE America voter ID bill, and Trump also escalated tensions by endorsing Texas AG Ken Paxton, undermining Thune\u2019s preferred approach that had supported Sen. John Cornyn instead. Thune is also dealing with enforcement of demands inside his conference becoming harder, as some senators-like Thom Tillis-are willing to openly criticize or slow administration priorities.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Republicans insist this isn\u2019t a total rupture. They caution against assuming Thune and Trump are headed for a \u201cdivorce,\u201d but acknowledge Trump\u2019s continued focus on punishing or pressuring key figures could further complicate Thune\u2019s whip-count and legislative prospects.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) just finished a bruising week that left his relationship with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> at a recent low point.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether it gets worse will depend on how well Thune navigates the seemingly growing number of Republicans willing to buck Trump \u2014 and whether the president takes it personally if he can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4582015\/senate-democrat-andy-kim-ice-clash-pepper-spray-incident\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Democrat Andy Kim and ICE clash over pepper spray incident<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579639\/gop-senators-spurn-anti-weaponization-fund-phone-data\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP senators spurn \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund payouts for phone data seizure: \u2018I don\u2019t need any compensation\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4580223\/jim-banks-stefanik-intelligence-chief\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump ally Jim Banks floats Stefanik as next intelligence chief<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Republicans, on break for the Memorial Day recess, have the next week to cool off after a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4578862\/gop-caps-turbulent-week-points-finger-white-house-bill-blunder\/\">striking display of defiance<\/a> that began with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4575535\/senate-iran-trump-war-powers-cassidy\/\">rebuke over the war with Iran<\/a> and finished with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche getting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/ted-cruz-senators-screaming-todd-blanche-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna346599\">chewed out<\/a> over a new $1.8 billion \u201clawfare\u201d fund.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four Republicans helped Democrats advance legislation to rein in Trump\u2019s war powers, a high mark that means the measure could actually pass more than two months into the conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A far larger number of Republicans appeared poised to deal Trump a setback related to the \u201clawfare\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are discussing everything from restricting who can access the funds to nullifying it altogether as part of an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >immigration enforcement bill<\/a> the Senate will pick back up in June, and Thune is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4574406\/thune-not-fan-trump-1-8-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">among the senators with concerns<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> A vote on that legislation was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4578428\/senate-punts-immigration-enforcement-vote\/\">scrapped on Thursday<\/a> due to the uproar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disputes come at a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4499421\/thune-trump-relationship-strong-save-america-rough-patch\/\">fraught moment<\/a> in Thune\u2019s relationship with Trump. Just weeks ago, the president was blaming Thune for not doing more to whip the votes needed to advance the SAVE America Act, a voter ID bill that stalled over GOP opposition to weakening the filibuster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Trump has made clear he is not going to drop the issue. The legislation is part of why Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575122\/senate-gop-fumes-trump-endorses-ken-paxton-texas\/\">endorsed<\/a> state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race last week, despite months of Thune encouraging him to back Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton offered his full-throated support for eliminating the filibuster, a move that tapped into Trump\u2019s frustrations and forced Cornyn to follow suit days later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune, for his part, has shown flashes of frustration over the president\u2019s targeting of Cornyn and a second incumbent, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Similar frustration is bubbling among Senate Republicans over Trump\u2019s preoccupation with priorities that have threatened the fate of some $70 billion in funding for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-make-their-leftward-move-on-immigration-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Democrats make their left...d move on immigration- Washington Examiner\">immigration enforcement agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes the \u201clawfare\u201d fund, but also a White House request to add $1 billion for the Secret Service. As of now, Thune is expected to leave the money out over rank-and-file resistance to the portion earmarked for Trump\u2019s ballroom project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The repeated points of friction don\u2019t mean that Trump has soured on Thune, or that Thune is ready to go the way of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the former majority leader whose relationship with Trump never recovered after the Capitol riot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As recently as a week ago, Trump was calling Thune a \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/factbase\/trump\/transcript\/donald-trump-remarks-congressional-picnic-south-lawn-white-house-may-19-2026\/\">terrific person<\/a>\u201d to attendees at the congressional picnic. Senate Republicans are similarly cautioning against the idea of a larger break. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t a precursor to a divorce,\u201d said a senior GOP Senate aide who requested anonymity to speak candidly. \u201cPeople who think that are, No. 1, overreacting, but also not appreciating the nature of their relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Trump and Thune are struggling to see eye to eye on a growing number of fronts, and Thune is managing a conference that is becoming less responsive to the president\u2019s demands. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a retiring GOP senator whom Trump called a \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579903\/thom-tillis-trump-stupid-stuff-hurting-gop\/\">nitpicker<\/a>\u201d Friday over his periodic criticism and willingness to hold up administration priorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s decision to target Cornyn and Cassidy, meanwhile, could further complicate Thune\u2019s whip count.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4578862\/gop-caps-turbulent-week-points-finger-white-house-bill-blunder\/\"><strong>GOP CAPS TURBULENT WEEK POINTING FINGER AT WHITE HOUSE FOR IMMIGRATION BILL BLUNDER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cassidy, fresh off a loss in his Senate primary against a Trump-backed challenger, was the fourth Republican to back the Iran war powers resolution last week, a largely symbolic defection given the measure, should it pass, will not survive a presidential veto.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn downplayed the possibility that he will become a thorn in Trump\u2019s side if he loses on Tuesday, but also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/politics\/john-cornyn-ken-paxton-texas-primary\/\">told<\/a> NewsNation that he would pick his fights \u201con a case by case basis.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune\u2019s bruising week with Trump spurs fears of worsening rifts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2606960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25294678396979-1-e1779815483862.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[5894,3740,3634],"class_list":["post-2606959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-politics","tag-senate","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25294678396979-1-e1779815483862.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2606959"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2606963,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606959\/revisions\/2606963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2606960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2606959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2606959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2606959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}