Trump threatened GOP senators who voted for war powers resolution in 'angry' calls

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 11, 2026, 4:57 PM EST


Hours after the Senate voted to advance the war powers resolution rebuking the White House’s current and future actions in Venezuela, President Donald Trump placed “angry” calls to each of the five Republicans who crossed the aisle, according to people with knowledge of the calls.

Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Todd Young, R-Ind., voted with Democrats to require the administration to get congressional approval for future military action in Venezuela. Thursday's vote was a procedural motion, and it advances the legislation to a full Senate vote that will require a simple majority.

Soon after the vote, Trump threatened each senator with primary challenges, vowing to unseat them, the people said. Two people describe the calls as “direct but cordial.” But in at least Collins’ case, Trump sharply criticized her and raised his voice, according to a person familiar with the exchange.

Collins, a six-term senator who is up for re-election this year, hasn’t formally announced her political plans. A person close to her told NBC News that Trump’s rhetoric wouldn’t influence her decision.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-threatened-gop-senators-voted-war-powers-resolution-angry-calls-rcna253491

[no_hypocrisy]

1. So, what does he want them to do?

Vote 180 degrees from their procedural vote?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. MaddowBlog-Trump suffers rare back-to-back defeats in Republican-led Congress

The president’s grip on GOP lawmakers is slipping in ways he isn’t used to — and clearly does not like.

Trump suffers rare back-to-back defeats in Republican-led Congress.

The president’s grip on GOP lawmakers is slipping in ways he isn’t used to — and clearly does not like.

www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— TheBlackPage (Woke, DEI forever against fascism) (@theblackpage.bsky.social) 2026-01-10T16:43:08.235Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-suffers-rare-back-to-back-defeats-in-republican-led-congress

One of the setbacks came in the GOP-led House, where a Democratic discharge petition to revive and extend Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies passed the chamber on a 230-196 vote. In all, 17 House Republicans sided with the Democratic minority — more than members of either party expected — suggesting bipartisan concern about the health care coverage benefits that Republicans let expire on Jan. 1.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where a separate set of negotiations is underway for a possible compromise.

Speaking of the upper chamber, Trump’s other, more dramatic setback happened in the Senate on Thursday afternoon. My MS NOW colleague Mychael Schnell reported:

In a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Donald Trump on Thursday, the Senate narrowly advanced a war powers resolution aimed at reining in U.S. military actions in Venezuela — an early sign that Trump may not have the congressional backing he anticipated for an extended military presence there.

In a 52-47 vote, senators agreed to begin debate on a war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that, if successful, would ‘direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.’

As the dust settled, many observers were surprised to see that five Senate Republicans had voted with the Democratic minority on the bipartisan legislation......

I think that’s the right way to see the developments. The point isn’t that the unpopular and failing president is suddenly powerless. He’s not, as evidenced by Thursday’s failed House votes on overriding his recent vetoes.

Rather, the point is that his grip is slipping in ways he isn’t accustomed to and clearly does not like. This was evident in the fall, when Republicans rejected some of Trump’s ridiculous nominees and voted to rebuke his trade agenda, and it was even more obvious this week.

As this year’s midterm elections approach and GOP members look for ways to salvage their careers, this dynamic seems likely to get worse for the White House before it gets better.