(AFP) – Senate Republicans were mulling a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump on Thursday, moving to strip money for his White House ballroom project and restrict a compensation fund for allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal agencies. The pushback is notable from a party that is usually in lockstep behind Trump but reflects growing frustration that the president is fixated on personal projects and political grievances in an election year expected to be dominated by voters’ worries over the economy.
The moves come as the Senate finalizes a sweeping immigration funding bill intended to bankroll Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through 2029. But instead of focusing attention on Trump’s border agenda, the debate has exposed alarm among Republicans over proposals they fear could be toxic in November’s congressional midterm elections—when voters are more focused on rising costs than the president’s pet projects.
At issue are two Trump-backed initiatives: up to $1 billion in Secret Service funding tied to security for his planned East Wing ballroom, and a $1.8 billion pot to compensate people who say they were victims of so-called political weaponization by the government. Republican Senator John Kennedy told reporters his party’s leaders were likely to drop the ballroom money that Trump wanted to be included in the bill after it failed to win enough support and ran into procedural obstacles. They are also looking for ways to narrow the compensation fund, amid concern that taxpayer money could flow to Trump allies convicted of violence against police officers during the 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Senate Republican leader John Thune has said the fund is “a work in progress” and that he personally does not see a need for it. The fight is awkward for Republicans, who had hoped to use the bill to accuse Democrats of blocking funding for immigration enforcement agencies. Instead, Democrats are preparing to force repeated votes on the ballroom and compensation fund, seeking to portray Republicans as more interested in Trump’s personal projects and political grievances than in helping families struggling with high prices.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is expected to use a marathon overnight amendment process to press Republicans on rising costs, masked immigration raids, the war in Iran, and what Democrats have branded a “slush fund” for Trump allies. Even some Republicans have adopted similar language. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who recently lost a primary to a Trump-backed challenger, said Americans were worried about mortgages, groceries, and gasoline—not about putting together a $1.8 billion fund for the president and his allies to pay whomever they wish. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is not seeking reelection, said it was “absurd” to create a fund that could compensate people who assaulted Capitol Police officers.
The showdown comes as Republicans grow increasingly uneasy about Trump’s campaign of revenge against members of his own party he sees as having crossed him. Trump helped sink Cassidy in Louisiana, backed a successful challenge to Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, and endorsed scandal-plagued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Senator John Cornyn in next week’s Senate runoff. Several Republican senators warn that the vendettas could backfire, making it harder to pass Trump’s agenda by alienating lawmakers whose votes he still needs.
Thune said Trump had the right to endorse whomever he wanted but acknowledged that the president’s interventions could make moving legislation “slightly more complicated.” Democrats held a news conference at the Capitol to hit out at Trump’s priorities ahead of the day’s voting. “The American people will see it in black and white. Our contrast will be glaringly clear,” said Schumer. “Ballroom Republicans are not working for you. They’re busy fighting for Trump. Democrats are fighting for you.”
© 2024 AFP
