Donald Trump is facing growing resistance from Republican lawmakers who are both turned off by his chronically chaotic style and increasingly unafraid of his ability to punish them politically as the President’s poll numbers plummet.
Trump’s diminishing influence was on stark display last week when his top priority – the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act – failed dramatically in the Senate. Emboldened congressional Republicans are also pushing back on a range of issues including Russia, transgender rights, health insurance subsides for low income Americans, and even whether to reform Senate rules to make it easier for the GOP to pass his agenda.
The President, still resentful after signing a bill Wednesday that placed new sanctions on Russia for election meddling – and restricted his own ability to ease punishments in place against Moscow – underlined the public discord Thursday morning.
“Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can’t even give us HCare!” he tweeted.