Trump tests Republican loyalty with electoral tweet and stimulus strategy

President TrumpDonald John Trump Governor Approval Rates Drop As COVID-19 Cases Rise Gohmert Says He Will Take Hydroxychloroquine As Treatment For Virginia Governor COVID-19, Senators Seek CDC Help With Coronavirus Outbreak In Center immigration detention MORE He’s testing the loyalty of his Republican allies on Capitol Hill at a time when his weak job approval numbers have Republican lawmakers increasingly concerned that he may lose re-election and drag his majority in the Senate with him.

Senate Republicans have been stuck with Trump during his tumultuous time in office.

While they criticize the president from time to time, they mostly avoid public confrontations, despite the fact that a good number of Republican lawmakers are willing to voice their critical judgments in private.

On Thursday, however, they decisively broke up with Trump by postponing the Nov. 3 election, which Trump raised as a way to guard against what he says is the danger of vote-by-mail fraud.

Leader of the Senate majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Pelosi snuggles up to presidents on surprise billing, but elusive McConnell deal opens door to smaller coronavirus relief deal Republican Party seeks ‘Plan B’ as coronavirus talks hit the MORE wall (R-Ky.) He flatly dismissed the idea of ​​delaying the general election when asked about it during an interview with Kentucky television.

“Never in the history of Congress, through wars, depressions, and the Civil War, have we ever had a federally scheduled election on time and will find a way to do it again this November 3,” McConnell told Max Winitz, the Main anchor in the afternoon at WNKY 40.

When Winitz asked if the November 3 election date is “set in stone,” McConnell replied “that’s correct.”

“We will face whatever the situation and we will have the election on November 3 as it was already scheduled,” said the Republican leader.

McConnell made his remarks after Trump warned on Twitter that “with universal voting by mail,” the 2020 election “will be the most UNACURED AND FRAUDULENT election in history.”

“Delaying elections until people can vote properly and safely?” the president tweeted.

Trump has maintained strong Republican support on Capitol Hill due to his popularity with the Republican base, but that loyalty is being tested as his approval numbers slide amid a pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Vin Weber, a Republican strategist, said Trump’s tweet was an unforced error likely sparked by the president’s growing concern about his reduced chances of winning a second term.

“I think the president is really concerned about his reelection. That really is coming, “he said. “Whatever turn the Trump people put into the poll numbers and claims it’s fake news and all that, Trump knows he’s in trouble.”

“And I also think it is that fear that is being left behind and may lose what led him to make that really stupid comment about delaying the election,” he said. “I say stupid because it is useless.”

Trump’s approval rating fell to 40 percent this month, according to a poll average compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com. Public approval of Trump’s response to the pandemic is in the 1930s, according to some polls.

The economy, which only six months ago Republicans saw as the president’s strongest argument for reelection, has collapsed since March. Gross domestic product fell 9.5 percent in the second quarter, representing an annual decline rate of 32.9 percent.

Trump’s weak numbers have begun to weigh on Republican Senate headlines.

Senator Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstHillicon Valley: Tech CEOs Prepare for House Grill | Republican Senate Party Faces Backlash Over Election Funds | Twitter Limits Trump Jr. Account Republicans Raise Concerns TikTok Could Be Used By Chinese Government To Interfere In Election 100 Days: Democrats See Clear Path To Senate Majority MORE (R-Iowa), who abruptly stopped talking to journalists in the halls of Capitol Hill, was following her Democratic opponent Theresa Greenfield by 3 points in a Des Moines Register poll last week.

Senate Republicans hoped in January that Ernst would run for reelection, but now his prospects in a state where Trump’s approval rating is underwater seem questionable.

With the rise in coronavirus infections across the country, the stagnation of the national economy, and polls against the president and members of his party, Republican senators backed down on Thursday against Trump’s suggestion to break 175 years of tradition. and change the date of the elections.

President of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham GOP Seeks ‘Plan B’ As Coronavirus Talks Hit The Wall Hill Campaign Report: Biden Nears Vice Presidential Election The GOP Senate Opens Door To Smaller Coronavirus Agreement To as conversations are delayed MORE (RS.C.), who plays golf with Trump and is one of his closest allies in the Senate, even criticized Trump’s suggestion to delay the election.

“I think delaying the elections probably wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said.

McConnell and Graham are set for reelection this year. While running for reelection in staunch Republican states, they both face well-funded opponents in an unpredictable political environment.

Other Republicans across the party’s ideological spectrum weighed in on Trump’s proposal.

Senator Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzGOP requests the Supreme Court to reinstate Arizona voting rules deemed to be racially biased Republican senators over the coronavirus proposal. Republican Senate Party Faces Backlash Over Election Funds | Twitter limits Trump Jr. account MORE (R-Texas), a prominent conservative, said electoral fraud is a “serious problem and that we must fight and stop it, but no, we must not delay the elections.”

Senator Mitt romneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyGOP pursues ‘Plan B’ as coronavirus talks hit wall Defense overnight: United States to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany | Troops Shuffle Cost ‘Several Billions’ of Dollars | Lawmakers plan to cut bread | Trump says he has not discussed the alleged rewards with Putin’s lawmakers. (R-Utah), a prominent moderate and outspoken critic of Trump, told reporters: “The election will take place on the day set by Congress and the historic date.”

The nation held its presidential elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November since Congress passed the Presidential Election Day Act in 1845.

Trump is further testing Republican loyalty by pressing for another massive coronavirus relief package, which the Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinMcConnell Opens Door to Smaller Coronavirus Relief Deal Republican Party Seeks ‘Plan B’ As Coronavirus Talks Hit Wall On The Money: Meadows Says Benefits Will Expire As Negotiators Strive To Reach A agreement | Trump launches short-term pact | Fed keeps rates close to zero as the economy faces a coronavirus hit MORE and Chief of Staff of the White House Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsMcConnell Opens Door To Smaller Coronavirus Relief Deal Republican Party Seeks ‘Plan B’ As Coronavirus Talks Hit Wall In Money: Meadows says benefits will expire as negotiators scramble to reach a agreement | Trump launches short-term pact | Fed keeps rates close to zero as the economy faces a coronavirus hit MORE They are negotiating with Democratic leaders.

While Trump doesn’t seem concerned about the possible impact on the deficit, opposition is steadily growing within the Republican Senate Conference to another multi-billion dollar package.

“It has to be narrower and more targeted, more focused,” said the senator. Jerry moranGerald (Jerry) MoranVOA visa decision could hinder Venezuela’s coverage As the ADA anniversary approaches, lawmakers express concern over changes to captioned phone service The Republican Senate is avoiding attendance at the Trump convention amid increased coronavirus MORE (R-Kan.) From the $ 1 trillion joint Republican White House and Senate relief proposal released Monday. “I still have to get the justification for the long list of things included in the bill and why they are COVID related.”

Moran, chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations, said he received little advance notice of what expenses under his jurisdiction would be included in the aid bill until it was publicly disclosed.

“If this is the starting point with my concerns about where this bill is now, this only gets worse, in my view, worse with more spending and much broader spending outside of the specific needs of COVID’s recovery- 19 “he said.

Republican senators have become more critical of negotiations between the White House and Democratic leaders in recent days.

Senator Ben sasseBenjamin (Ben) Eric Sasse Overnight Defense: United States to Withdraw 11,900 Soldiers from Germany | Troops Shuffle Cost ‘Several Billions’ of Dollars | Lawmakers plan to cut bread | Trump says he has not discussed the alleged rewards with Putin’s lawmakers. Trump’s plan to withdraw 11,900 soldiers from Germany. The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Fights on Capitol Hill in Barr and COVID-19 (R-Neb.) Released a statement Tuesday warning Mnuchin and Meadows are ready to strike a deal with Speaker. Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse The Republican Party Steering Committee selects four members for new committee positions. Pelosi Meets Presidents for Surprising Billing, But Tries to Dodge Hillicon Valley: House Panel Questions Tech CEOs During Long-Antitrust Hearing | TikTok will make the code public as it rejects ‘disinformation’ | Intel home panel expands access to foreign disinformation evidence MORE (D-Calif.) That it would significantly increase the debt.

“We have two great government Democrats: Secretary Mnuchin on behalf of the Trump administration and President Pelosi on behalf of politicians who overspend everywhere, playing rough games with their children’s money,” he said.

He accused the White House of “trying to solve a bad vote by agreeing to an indefensible debt.”

Weber, the Republican strategist, said Trump is not on the same page as many Republican lawmakers regarding the size of the next aid package.

He said Trump “wants the biggest boost he can get and doesn’t care what it looks like.”