Trump trains his fire on GOP allies, and worries Republicans

The HIll ^ | 08/01/25 6:00 AM ET | by Al Weaver

[RandFan]

President Trump is increasingly directing his frustrations at specific Senate Republicans, including turning his fire on key allies in recent days.

The president this week publicly excoriated Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) over upholding the “blue slip” tradition and pushing a congressional stock trading ban, respectively.

While Trump has long had a tendency of airing his grievances out in public — especially toward those he views as disloyal — the latest barbs about staunch backers are raising eyebrows and drawing questions about whether the strategy will continue to be effective in advancing his agenda.

“I don’t think it’s helpful for the president … to get in a tit for tat with other Republican members,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of GOP leadership. “He needs every single one of us, and we need him.”

Trump has repeatedly tangled with Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a libertarian-minded Republican who is not shy about voting against the president’s priorities, as well as Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the former Senate GOP leader who once spoke out against Trump, has voted against several of his nominees and has become a leading voice in favor of the Ukraine aid Trump often rails against.

Earlier this summer, he put off some Senate Republicans by attacking Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) over his opposition to Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” A number of Republicans indicated they were not big fans of the way the president went after a vulnerable incumbent seen as a team player, and one who had helped advance key Trump nominees. Tillis announced his retirement shortly after.

[Nervous Tick]

Thank you for the reveal. I see that I have misjudged you and I shall repent from that fail.