An ‘influential GOP senator’ is challenging the Trump administration’s agenda and not catching any heat for it, according to a POLITICO report.
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) is quietly emerging as the “Pentagon’s unlikely foil,” they wrote.
It's true, Senator Wicker has helped shepherd through some of Trump's "most controversial” decisions, including “seeing through Pete Hegseth’s confirmation" and “placing blame on 'mid-level officials' for [certain] Pentagon policies.”
However, ‘goodwill’ toward President Trump's ideals has helped the Armed Services Committee chair “enlist Trump in [accomplishing] his own goals.”
This includes discussing raising both defense spending and military spending. The latter of the two is being increased to 5 percent of GDP, meaning the defense budget will be well above $1 trillion, according to the report.
One unnamed Republican senator told Politico, Wicker "has put himself in a very powerful place,” adding both “the Pentagon [and] the White House need him.”
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The Mississippi lawyer has also “been one of the most vocal Senate Republicans to back arming Ukraine and warn about trusting Russian President Vladimir Putin, even after Trump suggested normalizing relations.”
POLITICO noted the 73-year-old even “chided Hegseth in February for telling NATO members that Ukraine could not regain its pre-war borders or join the alliance as a ‘rookie mistake.’”
Contrary to President Donald Trump’s plans, Wicker “partnered with House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL)” and did not sign off on significant reductions to U.S. troops in Europe and South Korea. He was also against the decision “for the U.S. to step down from its longtime role" leading NATO forces.
This has earned him support from Democrats. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), for instance, said Wicker is “a leader of ... great courtesy and respect for differing views.”
Politico wrote, Wicker’s ability to provide support and still be able to contradict Trump “seems to be working.”