John Thune Accused Of ‘Mocking’ Trump

Then came the line that raised eyebrows. Asked whether he was concerned Trump could veto the broader funding bill if lawmakers moved to ban the fund outright, Thune answered with a blunt four-word response. “Oh yeah, don’t you?” Thune snidely said. The comment soon drew charges that Thune was ridiculing Trump at a sensitive moment for Republicans.

This also comes as Republicans are seeking to keep their conference unified while negotiating with Democrats on a large $70 billion package to fund immigration enforcement. The challenge for GOP leaders is simple. Democrats could try to force votes on amendments to restrict the fund, putting Republicans in the awkward position of siding with Trump or getting pulled into a messy political dispute ahead of the midterms. Even some of Trump’s most devoted Senate friends are not content with the administration’s present approach. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Trump needs to be much more straightforward.