The President is set to meet with the Senate GOP on Wednesday, as the party strives to find a path forward ahead of pivotal midterm elections.
It has been over a year since President Trump last met with the Senate GOP in the Capitol, and much has changed in the dynamic between him and Republicans in the upper chamber. The President has successfully ousted two incumbents, Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn, and has temporarily derailed Republicans' $70 billion immigration enforcement package.
The Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, has repeatedly told the President that Republicans do not have the votes to pass the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, stalled voter ID and proof of citizenship legislation. Despite this, President Trump is expected to focus on passing the SAVE America Act during his meeting with the Senate GOP.
Sen. Rick Scott has laid out a roadmap of legislative goals for the next six months, including passage of the SAVE America Act. Scott believes that the party needs to demonstrate what Republicans stand for and what Democrats stand for through action, not rhetoric.
Republicans are struggling to pass the SAVE America Act, with Democrats opposing it and Republicans not being united to pass it. The package has become a sore subject among Republicans, leading to infighting on social media and eruptions during closed-door lunches.
Some Senators, including Sen. John Kennedy and Sen. Josh Hawley, are optimistic that the meeting with the President will be productive and focused on future wins rather than current disagreements.
Sen. Thom Tillis is hoping for a respectful dialogue that focuses on the positives the party has achieved over the last year and a half, and what future wins can look like with the few months remaining before the midterm elections.
