Thune Pulls Stunt Before Trump Arrives At Capitol

Several sources familiar with the meeting confirmed to The Daily Caller that tensions escalated as lawmakers debated the bill’s prospects.

One source told the outlet that the reported exchange “totally happened.”

Thune’s office strongly disputed the account.

“This is a baseless claim, and it is unequivocally untrue,” a spokesperson for the majority leader told the Daily Caller.

The disagreement reportedly unfolded during a contentious conversation involving Lee, Thune and Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

According to sources familiar with the meeting, Cornyn – who lost his primary earlier this month to Trump-backed Texas AG Ken Paxton – and Thune questioned Lee’s strategy for advancing the legislation.