Tensions boil as GOP senator privately begs Vance to rein in Trump’s demands

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) privately pressed Vice President JD Vance to get President Donald Trump to back off all the demands he is making that Senate Republicans dismantle the chamber's rules for his benefit, Axios reported on Tuesday.

The remarks came during a closed-door meeting Vance held with Senate Republicans, which also featured several lawmakers objecting to the president's plan to import beef from Argentina.

The key issues include Trump's repeated demands to eliminate the legislative filibuster — something Republicans have tweaked and made exceptions to in recent years, but resisted outright eliminating for fear Democrats could pass a broader policy agenda when in power — and to get rid of the "blue slip" Senate tradition for district court and U.S. attorney nominees, which requires a nominee have approval from their home state senators.

Trump has stepped up his demands in the previous months, directly attacking Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for refusing to get rid of blue slips and provoking a minor feud.

"Kennedy said Trump had called him to try to convince him to change his mind on blue slips, according to two of the sources in the room," said the report. "Vance equivocated, admitting the votes are probably not there to make the changes anyway — but also expressing frustration with the chamber's dysfunction, according to four sources familiar with what was said."

According to the report, Vance also pushed Republicans not to move ahead with a proposal to authorize pay for troops and air traffic controllers during the shutdown, amid a growing sentiment on the GOP side that such measures would strengthen Democrats' ability to hold out.