{"id":2618329,"date":"2026-06-24T06:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T10:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-gop-prays-for-kumbaya-moment-with-trump\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T07:00:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T11:00:31","slug":"senate-gop-prays-for-kumbaya-moment-with-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-gop-prays-for-kumbaya-moment-with-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate GOP prays for kumbaya moment with Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fsenate-gop-prays-for-kumbaya-moment-with-trump%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=2618329&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 Republicans are preparing for a lunch with President Donald Trump to discuss various issues, emphasizing unity after recent controversies that strained their relationship and hindered legislative efforts. Topics on the agenda include the controversial SAVE America Act, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcconnell-dems-looking-to-take-control-of-u-s-elections\/\" title=\"McConnell: Dems looking to take control of U.S. elections\">sweeping election bill<\/a> with limited support, and debates over how to handle foreign policy, especially the iran war and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-this-could-be-war-israel-launches-attack-on-iran-explosions-rock-tehran\/\" title=\"Breaking: This Could Be War - Israel Launches Attack on Iran, Explosions Rock Tehran\">potential nuclear agreements<\/a>. While some Republicans hope the meeting will be conciliatory, allowing them to focus on common priorities like cost of living and re-election efforts, disagreements persist over legislative strategies, including the bill\u2019s prospects and Trump\u2019s demands. The conversation is also expected to address disagreements within the party about security programs, nominations, and Trump&#8217;s influence over upcoming elections. the lunch aims to reinforce party unity amidst internal conflicts and differing views on key policy issues.  <\/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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republicans<\/a> have a laundry list of topics they want to discuss with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> when he steps into the Capitol on Wednesday for what is expected to be a \u201crobust\u201d lunch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s a commitment to unity they\u2019re really seeking after weeks of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4611566\/trump-jay-clayton-hearing-fisa-canceling\/\">rolling controversies<\/a> that have damaged their relationship with Trump and set back some of their legislative priorities.<\/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\/policy\/technology\/4621426\/senators-bipartisan-bill-safeguard-kids-ai-chatbots-self-harm-concerns\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senators unveil bipartisan bill to safeguard children from AI chatbots<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4621571\/senate-rebukes-trump-on-iran-war-with-symbolic-resolution\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate rebukes Trump on Iran war with symbolic resolution<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4620544\/bernie-moreno-elizabeth-warren-social-security-payroll-tax-cap\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bernie Moreno and Elizabeth Warren find common ground on lifting Social Security payroll tax cap<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s his preoccupation with the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election bill that Senate Republicans warn does not have the votes to pass. And they would like to move past a standoff over Bill Pulte, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-focus-on-16-trump-vp-picks-including-haley-greene-desantis\/\" title=\"Democrats are exploring 16 potential Trump VP candidates, such as Haley, Greene, and DeSantis\">acting intelligence chief<\/a> whose loyalty to Trump has derailed a bipartisan deal to renew a key spy program.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president will also hear from Republicans concerned about how he plans to go about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4610926\/trump-republicans-mystery-iran-deal-senate\/\">winding down the war<\/a> in Iran, with defense hawks fearing he\u2019s pursuing an Obama-style nuclear deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about their hopes for the meeting, several Republicans told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> they want the discussion to be \u201cconciliatory\u201d and that a successful outcome would be to emerge focusing on the cost of living, a top campaign issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet\u2019s be sure we come out one team with one goal, getting reelected in November, and focus on the 80%-90% of all the stuff that Republicans agree on,\u201d Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does not mean Republicans will shy away from airing out their concerns, however, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he expects members to be direct with the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the SAVE America Act, in particular, Thune has told Trump there <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4581932\/thune-trump-rough-patch-senate-frustrations-boil-over\/\">aren\u2019t the votes<\/a> to sidestep the filibuster, but other Republicans plan to reiterate that point and hope he will drop his threat to veto bills without it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said Trump\u2019s takeaway from Wednesday\u2019s meeting should be that \u201cwhat Leader Thune relays up to him is actually the sense and will of the conference.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) said whatever path the Senate takes, he wants to see Republicans and Trump acting in lockstep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHopefully, we can work together with the Oval Office and be coordinated in unison on a strategy to pass the SAVE Act,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The meeting comes at a moment when even Republicans cannot decide among themselves what legislation to prioritize.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune is far from the only member of his conference who finds the SAVE America Act debate to be counterproductive. But he\u2019s being met with resistance from Senate rebels who say leadership is not fighting hard enough for the bill, and Trump\u2019s presence is likely to fuel that conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was not Thune who invited Trump to the Capitol. Instead, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) offered to host the lunch as a venue for him to discuss the SAVE America Act. And the bill\u2019s lead sponsor, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), discussed the meeting with Trump in a Saturday phone call, according to a source familiar with the matter, so they could get on the same page.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m sure I will not be silent,\u201d Lee said of his plans for the lunch.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That conflict spilled into the open this week when Lee mocked Thune on X over the SAVE America Act, calling on him to \u201cbring it up now and announce that we will debate it until it passes.\u201d Thune, in turn, urged Lee to \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4620787\/thune-blunt-mike-lee-come-to-grips-save-america-act-math-voter-id-bill\/\">come to grips<\/a>\u201d with the bill\u2019s vote count.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legislation, which requires voter ID and proof of citizenship when registering to vote, has 50 sponsors, or a simple majority, but there is Republican opposition to add-ons Trump wants for mail-in voting. A broader version of the bill attracted 48 votes earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI understand what he\u2019s saying, I do,\u201d Lee said when asked about Thune\u2019s comment. \u201cI also understand this isn\u2019t easy, but it\u2019s not inappropriate, nor is it anti-collegial, nor is it attacking fellow Republicans, to continue to advocate for something that our voters really would like us to address. That\u2019s not unreasonable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump, when asked about Thune\u2019s reluctance, remarked that he\u2019s the \u201cleader\u201d and should find the votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re just going to talk about SAVE America,\u201d Trump told reporters on Tuesday. \u201cWe have to pass it. So we\u2019re going to have to talk about that, and many other things. Lots of good relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune, for his part, said he and Trump are still \u201cunited\u201d on the \u201cissues that really matter to the future of this country,\u201d but that the two do have \u201cdifferences of opinion\u201d at times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI shoot straight with him, and vice versa,\u201d Thune said on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For months, the SAVE America Act has been the crux of that disagreement, but Senate Republicans have also grown frustrated with the president over his insistence that Pulte, who lacks a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-biden-immigration-agenda-most-radical-ever-not-willing-to-enforce-law-against-criminals\/\" title=\"Cruz: Biden Immigration Agenda \u2018Most Radical... Ever, Not Willing To Enforce Law Against Criminals\">national security background<\/a>, be given time to lead the intelligence community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate was fast-tracking the nomination of Jay Clayton, Pulte\u2019s replacement, last week, but Trump suddenly torpedoed his confirmation hearing hours before it was set to take place. Now, Republicans are left without an off-ramp to renewing a spy program that allows foreign surveillance without a warrant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before that, Senate Republicans were locked in a dispute with Trump over his since<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-scrapped \u201canti-weaponization fund<\/a>.\u201d Their gripes even extend to the 2026 elections, and they are still fuming over Trump\u2019s decision to endorse challengers for two of their incumbents, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Cornyn (R-TX). Both lost their Senate primaries in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The default for Senate Republicans has been to downplay the disagreements, with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, calling Wednesday\u2019s lunch a \u201cgood family discussion\u201d among \u201cfriends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he and other Republicans are simultaneously skittish about the Iran war and hope the meeting can also be a venue to steer Trump away from sanctions relief or weak guardrails on Tehran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about the Iran peace deal, Sheehy said his message will be: \u201cTrust isn\u2019t a policy.\u201d Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said the Iran agreement was the \u201cforemost\u201d priority for her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4597401\/how-thune-overcame-trump-roadblock-fund-ice\/\"><strong>HOW THUNE OVERCAME A TRUMP-SIZED ROADBLOCK TO FUNDING ICE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m really interested in Iran. I know he\u2019ll want to probably talk more about the SAVE America Act, and other issues like that, which are really important,\u201d Ernst said. \u201cBut right now, pressing for me, definitely Iran \u2014 I\u2019d love to hear his thoughts on that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scott, the lunch organizer, circulated a memo to Senate Republicans on Monday naming government funding as another priority for the meeting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Republicans seek unity in upcoming Capitol lunch with Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4336,"featured_media":2618330,"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\/06\/tillis-trump-senate-lunch.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6203,5894,3740,3634],"class_list":["post-2618329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gop","tag-politics","tag-senate","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tillis-trump-senate-lunch.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618329","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\/4336"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618329"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618333,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618329\/revisions\/2618333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2618330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2618329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2618329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}