WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump publicly questioned Senate Majority Leader John Thune's leadership this week, intensifying tensions with his own party's top senator over stalled legislative priorities.
Trump targeted Thune for the Senate's failure to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping voter-restriction package championed by the White House. At a recent rally in Georgia, Trump told attendees, "It's like the Senate is where you send things you want them to die."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump's "patience is running out" with Thune, underscoring the growing rift between the White House and Capitol Hill.
During an Oval Office event, a reporter asked Trump whether he believed Thune was "still the man for the job." Trump replied, "Well, we're going to find out, and I'll let you know."
Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Senate Republicans — not the president — choose their leader. "That's a decision that's made by my colleagues," he said.
The SAVE America Act requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate under the filibuster rule. Thune has consistently said he lacks the votes to pass the measure.
Trump has pushed to eliminate the filibuster to move his agenda through Congress, but Thune does not have the votes within the chamber to change its rules. Even without the filibuster, the bill lacks sufficient support to pass.
Several GOP senators rallied behind Thune last week in a public show of support that made clear an orchestrated ouster by the president was unlikely to succeed. Any successor would face the same vote counts and procedural constraints.
The dispute comes roughly three months before the midterm elections, adding strain for Republicans campaigning to retain or expand their congressional majorities.
The SAVE America Act remains stalled, Thune retains his leadership post with his caucus behind him, and Trump has no clear path to force a change.
