Senate Republicans say it's time to give Trump a reality check

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

06/22/2026 08:35 PM EDT


Donald Trump is about to come face to face with one of his frequent punching bags: Senate Republicans. They might just be in a mood to punch back. The president was invited to GOP senators’ Wednesday lunch to push for his No. 1 priority, the GOP election bill known as the SAVE America Act.

But several outgoing Republicans who have clashed with Trump said Monday they will be there to deliver a reality check: The bill isn’t passing, and it’s time to move on. “I’m going to be there front and center,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters. “It will be important if it actually is a constructive exchange of different opinions, and hopefully we can all get on the same page. Right now, we’re not in a great place.”

Cornyn, who recently lost his bid for a fifth term to a Trump-endorsed challenger, reiterated the votes just aren’t there to pass the elections bill: “I’ve been around here long enough and been through enough battles and counted enough votes to know that it doesn’t just magically occur, no matter how much you wish it would happen.”

Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — who are also departing the Senate in part due to Trump — said Monday they, too, will be at the closed-door lunch and urged Trump to turn the page on the SAVE America Act.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/22/trump-senate-republicans-lunch-00971303

[SSJVegeta]

1. Trump would have had 3 reliable votes most likely if not for his burning those bridges

Now MAGA is effectively in the minority in the Senate with Collins fighting for her political survival and in no place to vote for a MAGA law in a blue state.

[Bluetus]

23. GOP election-rigging isn't the best campaign issue for the Dems, but it it worth fighting

The most powerful issue right now is not abortion, not immigration, not election-rigging, not the ballroom, not the reflecting pool, not the Iran war.

This most powerful issue today, BY FAR, is AI data centers. People all across the country and all across the political spectrum are enraged. First, they see AI as being mostly about the Surveillance State. They see it correctly as the billionaires ripping off taxpayers for sweetheart deals that provide no benefits to the local community: no jobs, higher electrical rates, wate of precious water, etc. This issue is potent, and ought to be the centerpiece of every campaign. And Dems should have a consistent position. Not just a vague "We don't like AI data centers", but something with real teeth, like: "We are going to enact legislation that requires every new data center to build reneable power systems (wind, solar, etc) that generates TWICE the amount of energy that the data center will consume. And the excess power will go onto the grid for free, LOWERING taxpayers' monthly electrical bills. And after 10 years, all that generation capacity becomes the property of the taxpayers, with the data centers paying regular consumer rates for the electricity they use."

Sound crazy? Maybe it is, but in negotiation, you start with a strong position, and this is a position that huge majoritties will favor. In other words, we need to get in front of this parade before the Republicans grab the issue and cloud everything so they can keep giving favors to the billionaires.

Having said that, we can walk and chew gum. Certainly Trump's Jim Crow law is worth talking about, and it could be the deciding margin in Maine, Alaska, Iowa ... Make the Republicans own it. And even if they back off, keep pounding them as if they might still come back and try it at any time.

[SSJVegeta]

26. The Atlantic just posted a fluff piece about how data centers are good

They also happen to be sponsored by openAI. Hopefully people arent fo poll led by the MSMs attempt to divide people on this.

[awesomerwb1]

31. It's Maine

Anything can happen there.

[Ray Bruns]

2. I'll believe it when I see it.

[chicoescuela]

3. You are exactly right

[displacedvermoter]

5. When you are right, you are right!

[NCDem47]

10. He will bribe, blackmail or bully them all to get what wants.

He loooooooves having the keys to the nation's surveillance program.

[Diamond_Dog]

17. I'm afraid you're right, NCDem.

[awesomerwb1]

32. Yep

It's an easy one. When it comes time to protect and represent their constituents, they instead choose politics and power over and over and over.

[MoseShrute]

6. Cowards

[tanyev]

7. The best time would have been at his first impeachment trial.

Or, failing that, at his second impeachment trial. But, ok, let’s see if that dry powder still works.

[MadameButterfly]

8. So, the real vote on the Save America Act will just be postponed

until the lame duck Senators who have grown a spine are replaced by either Trump sycophants or Democrats. One threat to the midterms (and democracy) down, many more to go.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. An Elephant never forgets

[lonely bird]

11. Sigh

These fuckers showing spines when they are on their way out is infuriating. I will take their pittance if it causes the Apricot Appeaser to stroke out. Beyond that? They are gutless. They knew what he was and had their chance twice and they chose to let Trump teabag them.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. No they won't

They will not cross the Child Rapist.

[Katinfl]

13. They talk a good game but when push comes to shove, they always cave.

The true test will be when somebody pushes back who is not retiring or who lost their primary. Maybe then we will have something.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

14. I'm kind of surprised that THIS is where Republicans have decided to draw the line.

The SAVE Act actually checks a lot of boxes that Republicans have been clamoring for. If they really wanted to they could address the state's right issues, etc., and easily get a draconian voting law passed--and they all know this may be their last chance for a while.

The SAVE Act seems far more in line with their priorities than so many other things they have just gone along with: a new war in the Middle East, imposing tariffs on countries around the world, destroying USAID and PEPFAR, destroying a whole wing of the White House in order to build an overpriced ballroom/bunker system, installing people with no experience or qualifications like RFK, Jr., and Kristi Noem in positions of power, having the Justice Department embarrass itself with politically-motivated investigations, etc.

I would be hopeful, but these are Republicans we are talking about.

What fresh hell do they have in mind instead of this?

[Bayard]

15. Nothing to lose

Will they be serving ketchup at this luncheon?

[agingdem]

16. Now is the time??

after they did nothing while Trump crashed the economy, denied struggling families SNAP benefits, separated families and deported American citizens, sent ICE agents into blue states cities to terrorize/kill protestors, bombed Venezuelan fishing boats, turned the DOJ into his personal revenge machine, bypassed Congress to start an unprovoked winless war killing our military sons and daughters, bombed an Iranian girls school killing 163 children, threatened to wipe Iran off the face of the earth, destroyed the East Wing, humiliated the United States with his unhinged performance at the G7 summit.. and the insanity goes on and on..

So now the neutered Republicans are maybe/possibly/could be ready to say no to Trump after they sat on their assess and allowed Trump to desecrate our sacred national monuments..STFU!!

[Hieronymus Phact]

18. And they only care now

because of the election.

[FakeNoose]

19. I think they're getting a lot of nasty-grams from their voters

You know, angry phone calls, emails, etc. It's finally sinking in that these assholes won't be re-elected unless show some gumption. I'd like to believe they won't be re-elected anyway, but Repukes seem to think they're smarter than the polls. We'll see.

At least some of these Senators have decided they'll fight him, if they can.

[agingdem]

33. They're so afraid of constituent wrath

they’re avoiding in-person town halls..the bitter irony: because the pissed off “we didn’t vote for this” Trump/GOP voter decided their hate for “the other” was more of a priority then healthcare, affordable housing, jobs, the environment, educating their children, they got exactly what they voted for…and exactly they deserve…

[quakerboy]

20. thats 3 of 5 needed

Whooptedo.

Let me know when theres enough to impeach.

[Raven123]

21. Bring it to floor, vote it down and then I will take them seriously

[Martin68]

22. "Republicans?" More like "outgoing Republicans?"

[Tetrachloride]

24. Welcome to 1861

[NoMoreRepugs]

25. When they are threatened and pee their pants let's see how they vote.

[TygrBright]

27. Well, that's a check that's sure to bounce... n/t

[Blue Owl]

28. Fuck the lot of them. The damage is done.

[Wounded Bear]

29. Senate repubs: We are all Susan Collins now...

[mgardener]

30. Too little

Too late.
If they were winning their primaries, they would not say a thing.

Stefanik has said not one word against Trump even after he denied her and ambassadorship and refused to support her governor's run in NY

Trump lickspittle. One and all.

[underpants]

34. Here's comes one of those Susan Collins "concern" rants

Take cover!!!

[ananda]

35. I wonder how many holdouts can still be bought with enough money.

Hmmm?