President Trump wants Republicans in Congress to do exactly as they are told, but Senate GOP Leader John Thune has been saying 'no' to Trump's requests, leading to open conflict.
Thune, the Senate's top Republican, has been delivering unwelcome news to Trump, including rejecting funding for Trump's White House ballroom and forcing the administration to scratch a $1.8 billion fund that could have been used to compensate Trump's political allies.
Trump has privately complained about Thune, but he personally likes him, according to White House officials. While Trump harps on the SAVE America Act, he hasn't criticized Thune publicly or called for his removal as leader.
Thune is widely liked among Senate Republicans for his forthright, gentlemanly manners and affable demeanor, and he is fiercely defended by colleagues.
Thune has tried to avoid a war of words with Trump, saying his job is 'to make sure we do everything we can to work with the president and his team where we've got our incentives aligned to get things done.'
However, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated and at times has cut out Thune entirely, summoning House Speaker Mike Johnson to the White House to discuss the fight over Pulte and the lapsed surveillance law.
Many of Thune's colleagues have rallied to his defense, saying that he is right to be straight with the president and that no one wants a different leader.
