Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and his fellow Republicans lashed out at Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt after she complained about the latest stalemate with the White House, according to new reports.
Tensions have erupted between the Senate GOP leadership and President Donald Trump’s White House over the chamber’s inability to pass the president’s legislative priorities, primarily the controversial SAVE America Act, The Hill reported Friday.
Leavitt reportedly sparked the backlash this week when she told reporters “patience is running out” with Thune and demanded the Senate “do its job.”
The Senate GOP leader later responded with a snappy retort.
“Maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes,” Thune said. “Instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats.”
Thune added, “And if there are Republicans they think are gettable, get on the phone.”
His fellow Republicans in the Senate were quick to chime in.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) countered with a shot at pointed shot at the 28-year-old Leavitt, telling reporters, “I have 1000 percent confidence in Thune, and anybody in the White House who thinks he’s not a good leader isn’t qualified for their job.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who opposed the president’s SAVE America Act, also rallied behind Thune. Asked if his job was in jeopardy, Collins responded definitively: “I think he enjoys well-deserved support from the caucus.”
Politico also reported on mounting tensions Friday as Republicans rallied around Thune and expressed frustration about the SAVE America Act.
“This idea that he can just command members of the Republican conference to get in line is just a fantasy,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). “I don’t know who it was that sold the president on this idea, that this was obtainable, but it’s creating a circular firing squad for Republicans.”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told Politico, “John can’t put a gun to people’s heads and make them vote a particular way.”