Tension builds between Trump and Senate Republicans, putting GOP agenda on the line
(NPR) Senate Majority Leader John Thune thought he had a plan.
President Trump wanted a loyal attack dog as acting director of national intelligence. Democrats and some Republicans were appalled by his pick, Bill Pulte, and threatened to hold up renewing a key spy tool until he was yanked. So Thune pressed for a more palatable permanent director, allowing the Senate to swiftly confirm him before Pulte took the reins.
When Trump then nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to take the job permanently, crisis seemed averted.
Then, just hours before the confirmation hearing was scheduled to begin last week, Trump blew up that plan, writing in a 4 a.m. social media post that he would not sign legislation reauthorizing the spy tool unless it also included the Save America Act, the strict voter ID law he wants.
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/23/nx-s1-5862113/trump-senate-friction