Trump's Revenge Campaign Sparks Backlash From GOP Senators

WASHINGTON—President Trump’s retribution campaign is fracturing support for his priorities in the Senate, where anger is mounting among Republicans over his latest moves to punish GOP critics and reward allies headed into what is expected to be a difficult midterm election for their party.

The growing frustration with Trump could endanger Republicans’ legislative agenda, which relies on their ability to stick together on party-line votes, from immigration-enforcement funding to a gas-tax holiday to tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. war in Iran. It could also weigh on their chances for holding on to their majorities in the House and Senate.

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The split centers on Trump’s efforts to oust sitting Republican members of Congress, topped off by his endorsement Tuesday of a challenger to Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) that stunned many colleagues.

In a clear sign of the tensions, Senate Republicans said Wednesday that they didn’t have the votes to preserve $1 billion in funding tied to Trump’s planned White House ballroom, part of a critical package that would fund immigration enforcement. Republicans, who have a 53-47 edge in the Senate, are aiming to pass $70 billion in multiyear funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol by the end of the month.

Some Republicans have balked at the idea of using taxpayer dollars for anything tied to Trump’s ballroom project at a time when many Americans are grappling with high prices for gas and other daily essentials, several months into the Iran war. A number of GOP lawmakers have also raised concerns about Trump’s recent deal to create a government fund that could benefit allies and end audits of his taxes.

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