TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A growing rift between United States (US) President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune is exposing deep divisions within the Republican Party, fueling concerns that internal conflict could weaken the party's position ahead of the November midterm elections.
CNN revealed that the widening split comes as Republicans struggle to advance key elements of Trump's agenda in the narrowly divided Senate, where disagreements over legislative strategy, Senate rules, and election priorities have intensified.
Unlike House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is said to speak with Trump frequently—sometimes several times a day—Thune has had only limited contact with the president in recent weeks. The South Dakota Republican said he had not spoken with Trump for nearly two weeks during a critical period marked by disputes over Cabinet nominations, funding proposals related to Iran, and stalled legislative priorities.
“With me, it's more on an as-needed basis,” Thune told CNN when asked about his communication with the president.
The deteriorating relationship has become increasingly public. Trump has repeatedly criticized Thune on his Truth Social platform, accusing Senate Republican leaders of failing to deliver on priorities such as the SAVE America Act, despite the bill having already been rejected in the Senate.
Trump has also continued pressing Senate Republicans to eliminate the legislative filibuster, a move Thune has repeatedly ruled out.
"It's just a fact, we're not going to nuke the filibuster," Thune said, arguing that Republicans would eventually need the procedural safeguard when they return to the minority.
The disagreement extends beyond Senate rules. Trump is pushing Republicans to use the budget reconciliation process to advance a broader package that includes additional funding for military operations involving Iran and voting-related legislation. However, Thune has said the proposal lacks enough Republican support to secure passage.
The Senate majority leader has instead focused on passing a stopgap funding bill before the September 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
The public disagreement has unsettled Republican lawmakers, many of whom worry that continued infighting could undermine the party's chances of maintaining its slim congressional majorities.
"I would say we're all longing for a relationship with the White House where we work more in harmony," Senator John Curtis of Utah said.
West Virginia Senator Jim Justice also acknowledged the growing tension.
"The infighting is not really productive," Justice said. "There's no point in going round and round and round."
He warned that prolonged divisions could cost Republicans seats in Congress, making it harder for Trump to pursue his legislative agenda.
Many Republicans believe the relationship between Trump and Thune deteriorated further after the president endorsed a primary challenge against Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a move that has complicated Republican efforts to defend a key Senate seat.
The death of Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of both Trump and Thune, has also removed an important bridge between the two leaders, according to several Republican senators.
"We need to be talking up the wins, talking about how crazy Democrats are, and instead we are knifing each other," one Republican senator told CNN.
The White House has declined to comment on the state of Trump's relationship with Thune, referring instead to the president's previous public remarks criticizing Senate leadership.
Asked whether he believed Trump was preparing to blame him if Republicans perform poorly in the midterms, Thune replied simply, "I don't know."
The tension became even more apparent after Trump declined to publicly back Thune's leadership when asked whether the Senate majority leader remained the right person for the job.
"We're going to find out and I'll let you know," Trump said.
Thune responded with a pointed remark of his own.
"He doesn't vote in our elections," he said.
Despite the public clashes, some Republican senators view the dispute as a reflection of the institutional differences between the White House and Congress rather than a personal feud.
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma said Trump's frustration stems from his expectation that government should move as quickly as a business.
"He's always pushing," Lankford said. "But we're a legislative branch—we don't move that fast."
With Congress approaching its August recess and Republicans still divided over Trump's demands, party leaders face mounting pressure to restore unity before campaigning intensifies for the November elections.
Read: At Least Five Dead in Ferry Fire near Indonesia's Madura Island
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
