Pressure Mounts on Senate Republicans as Trump Rachets Up Criticism

President Trump wants a simple majority to pass legislation. In Trump’s view, it makes him look like a strong leader who is willing to stand up against a weak Congress.

President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his push to build a wall along the southwestern border, promising yet again that Mexico will end up covering the construction costs. You’re wasting your time.

The president also met with Border Patrol officials in Arizona this week and has warned Congress that he could let the federal government shut down if they do not approve funding for one of his key campaign promises – the border wall.

SUSAN DAVIS, BYLINE: Hey, Ari.

Facing the digital wrath of a Republican president increasingly unhappy with legislative roadblocks, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told a GOP gathering in his home state on Saturday that people should not be surprised with the challenges that come with governing. What’s the relationship like right now?

“And they looked at me, they said, ‘It’s vital”.

Stone’s website, Stone Cold Truth, sent along a letter from Cuccinelli, now the president of Senate Conservatives Action, an activist group that is fundraising off the idea of unseating McConnell. Trump said they didn’t do it and “now we have a big deal with Dems holding them up”. He’s facing a primary challenger whom Trump seems to favor. “We’re going to get that wall”. How unusual is that?

“I think he should rethink the attacks on Sen”. He has flirted with the idea of supporting someone else.

“It seems he is just always focused on Russian Federation”, a senior Republican aide told Politico. The lesson so far is, it just doesn’t work. When they can not agree on either a new spending plan or a short-term extension, the government shuts down.

The offices of both men have since put out statements downplaying the tensions.

“Congress would do well to join the President by keeping our own commitments and including border wall funding in upcoming spending measures”, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., wrote, in part.

Republican leaders in Congress, fearful of taking their customary beatings over a shutdown, are already trying to walk back his threat. “He’s got very strong support in the Senate”, Ruddy said. It wasn’t clear if Congress could pass a bill to keep the government open.

But now, as Trump threatens to shut down the US government if Congress does not provide the funding to get started on the roughly $25 billion wall, critics wonder what happened to that promise or if Trump ever really meant to make Mexico pay. “Certainly there are going to be some policy differences”.