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President Trump is testing pressure points within the GOP with a series of particularly bold moves that have shown just where some Republicans are willing to draw a line on certain issues.
Farm state Republicans have expressed concern about Trump’s idea to import beef from Argentina as U.S. cattle ranchers face economic headwinds.
Meanwhile, New York Republicans pushed back on the decision to pardon disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was serving time in prison on fraud charges. And others in the president’s party have expressed unease with Trump’s talk of a massive settlement with his own Justice Department stemming from past investigations into his conduct.
Trump and Republicans have largely been united on their messaging around the government shutdown, arguing any negotiations with Democrats will only happen after the government is reopened. The president’s approval rating has actually ticked up slightly during the shutdown as it nears one month.
But at the same time, Trump is also putting Republicans in uncomfortable positions, including his sidelining of a deferential GOP-majority in Congress to implement much of his agenda
“This is not the Republican Party, this is the Trump Party,” said Matt Terrill, a GOP strategist and managing partner at Firehouse Strategies.
“You’re seeing a few Republicans out there weigh in and have views. You’re going to see that. That’s not uncommon, but nothing has changed here,” he added. “Nothing has changed the fact that this is Trump’s party.”
The biggest break between Trump and typically supportive GOP lawmakers came this week when the president told reporters aboard Air Force One he was looking to import beef from Argentina.
The idea prompted pushback from typically quiet or supportive lawmakers, who argued it would hurt American cattle ranchers and do little to drive down prices.
“This isn’t the way to do it,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said of Trump’s idea. “It’s created a lot of uncertainty in that market. So I’m hoping that the White House has gotten the message.”
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) posted on social media that she had expressed her “deep concerns” to the administration about importing beef from Argentina.
“Bottom line: if the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn’t the way,” Fischer said. “Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers.”
Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) also publicly pushed back on Trump’s proposal. And the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association warned the government was undercutting them.
Trump and the White House appeared unmoved. Trump posted on social media calling on cattle ranchers to lower their prices while defending his implementation of tariffs. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued increasing the beef supply would help drive prices down, a sign Trump was not backing off the idea of importing from Argentina.
While the beef imports marked a major policy disagreement, some Republicans have also pushed back on Trump’s personal and personnel decisions in recent days.
Some GOP senators were uneasy about Trump reportedly demanding the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation in connection to investigations into his conduct during previous administrations. Trump himself confirmed he was seeking money, but said he did not know the exact figure.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is retiring at the end of his term, said Wednesday that the political “optics” of Trump receiving a windfall payment from the Justice Department raise “concerns,” particularly during the shutdown when federal workers are going without pay.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called the arrangement “very irregular.”
While GOP senators have mostly been deferential to Trump on his nominees, confirming controversial picks like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., enough Republicans took issue with racist comments made by Paul Ingrassia that he was forced to withdraw his nomination this week to be the head of the Office of Special Counsel.
In the House, Trump’s decision to pardon Santos, the former New York Republican congressman who was convicted on fraud charges, struck a nerve with some New York Republicans who are likely to face tough reelection bids in the midterms in swing districts.
“George Santos is a convicted con artist. That will forever be his legacy, and I disagree with the commutation,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said in a statement.
“George Santos didn’t merely lie — he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty warrant more than a three-month sentence,” Rep. Nick LaLota posted on X. “He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged.”
Republican strategists and Trump allies argued the breaking points are a reflection of both where lawmakers feel they need to draw the line with the president, and how best to do so.
“If you have a problem with Trump, before you run out on TV and bad mouth Trump, you go behind closed doors and address your concerns,” said one source close to the White House. “At that point, you can go on there, so long as it relates specifically to the crowd that you need to get re-elected.”
