When Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) returns after the summer recess, he will not only face pressure from President Donald Trump but also from some of the members of his caucus.
According to a report from Politico, Senate Republicans want to spend August fighting to keep their majority and training their fire on Democrats, but "Donald Trump might have other plans."
Senate Republicans departed early Saturday without advancing Trump's election security bill. They lack the votes to pass the SAVE America Act and chose to defer a framework for a third party-line spending bill rather than face a failed vote.
Some Republicans anticipate Trump will use the five-week August recess to pressure the caucus further on his signature election measure, potentially alienating voters the GOP needs in November.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) acknowledged the likelihood of continued Trump focus on the bill during recess. "That would be consistent with his approach," Rounds stated before conceding. "But we also know the votes aren't there."
Privately, some GOP senators question whether Thune's strategy will satisfy Trump. One senator, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said Thune wants to hold a vote on the voter ID bill to get the president to back off.
"I think he's wrong," one Republican senator told Politico before warning that Senate Republicans were "not factoring in the president's reaction" should the bill fail as expected.
Thune acknowledged uncertainty about Trump's response when asked if the Senate's actions would satisfy the president. "Good question, but I think if they want votes, we'll try and get votes," Thune said. "I can't guarantee outcomes."
The Politico report adds, "Trump and his allies’ continued focus on a bill that doesn’t have the votes to pass has frustrated Senate Republicans. Some Republicans also see Trump’s focus on the election bill as a back-door way for the president to accomplish what they think he really wants: getting rid of the filibuster, which a critical mass of Republicans also opposes."