Less than two hours after the scheduled signing of a rare bipartisan and generational housing bill, President Trump abruptly canceled the ceremony, using the legislation as political leverage to encourage the U.S. Senate to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act).
In the sudden announcement, President Trump said that the signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is canceled until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, deeming the controversial legislation a “National Emergency.”
Sen. Scott's Hopeful Lunch Meeting Goes Awry
Following the ceremony’s cancellation, President Trump visited Republican Senators for a lunch meeting intended as a proactive gathering between the GOP Senate and President Trump.
According to The Hill, Senate Steering Committee chair Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) invited the president to the weekly lunch meeting he hosts to solidify the GOP on the SAVE America Act and to discuss how to approach another potential government shutdown later in the year.
The meeting reportedly went awry as President Trump expressed anger towards the four Republican lawmakers who voted for a resolution that ordered the president to “remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.”
During the meeting, President Trump reportedly berated Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and David McCormick (R-Pa.) for their roles in the vote that led to the resolution’s passage.
President Trump and Sen. Cassidy proceeded to enter a shouting match after the Louisiana Senator accused his administration of not being transparent with lawmakers about the conflict in Iran.
Updated War Powers Resolution Fails
After the meeting, the Senate reconvened to vote on a similar war powers resolution, this time voting 47-50-1, which led to the resolution’s failure.
Tensions Within GOP
For weeks, President Trump and Senate Republicans have been at odds as disagreements between colleagues have arisen over the extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s enhanced surveillance authorities, the choice of Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence, and the $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
