According to the Wall Street Journal on June 24, Trump engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy during a luncheon with Republican senators regarding the Iran war. Cassidy is one of the Republican lawmakers who recently supported a resolution to limit Trump’s war powers.
After the meeting, Cassidy told reporters, "I told the president, 'You have not told the American people what is happening.'" He added, "The war was supposed to last four weeks, but it has now continued for four months," criticizing the administration for its lack of explanation.
This confrontation occurred amid growing dissatisfaction among Republicans regarding the White House's insufficient communication about the Iran war. Cassidy, along with Senators Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins, voted the previous day in favor of a non-binding resolution urging Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from hostilities with Iran.
Last week, Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the reopening of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and the initiation of negotiations to end its nuclear program. However, there are ongoing concerns about the clarity of the war objectives and the scope of U.S. military involvement. That evening, the White House also revealed an additional budget request of $87.6 billion focused on the Iran war.
Trump also pressured senators regarding the election bill, asserting that the GOP must pass the "SAVE America Act," which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration, to win the midterm elections. However, the bill requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate, and its chances of passing are low due to Democratic opposition.
The conflict extended to the housing relief bill as well. Trump announced that he would not sign the bipartisan housing bill until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. The housing bill passed the Senate with a vote of 85 to 5 and the House with a vote of 358 to 32.
The housing bill aims to streamline the permitting process for housing projects and ease restrictions on the construction of modular homes. Republicans had hoped to highlight achievements in alleviating the cost of living ahead of the midterm elections, but Trump's delay in signing has disrupted that strategy.
Senator Thom Tillis criticized the situation, stating, "I don’t understand why a bill ready for signature is being held hostage by a bill that has no chance of passing this Congress." In contrast, Trump reportedly claimed in a private meeting, "No one cares about the housing bill at my rallies," asserting that the SAVE America Act energizes his base more effectively.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.