President Trump is meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at 2 p.m. today to find a path forward for his voter ID law after the president’s *tense* meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday.
Shortly after abruptly canceling a celebratory bill signing with Republicans, Trump blew up at GOP senators behind closed doors. He was furious about the successful vote to limit his Iran powers. Shortly after, with their tails between their legs, Senate Republicans sought to make amends with the president by holding another Iran war powers vote but letting this one fail.
^ There are two caveats: The first caveat is that Wednesday’s vote doesn’t change the fact that the Senate already approved the resolution to rebuke Trump’s war in Iran. The second caveat is that the vote is not legally binding. Instead, it just sends a strong message to the president.
But regardless, Wednesday night’s vote may have succeeded in its goal: making Trump happy. “Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for,” he posted on social media, later adding that “this vote puts Iran on notice.”
Can Johnson smooth things over?: Johnson is expected to lay out a plan to pass Trump’s voter ID law. But it’s a *very* uphill battle. It would require the Senate to eliminate the filibuster, and there doesn’t appear to be much of an appetite to do so.
Tidbit — the body language here is fascinating: Watch Senate GOP Leader John Thune’s (S.D.) body language as Trump wraps up his visit to the Capitol. 🎥 Watch the C-SPAN clip
The most dramatic part of the meeting: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) stood up and exploded at Trump during the lunch meeting over the Iran war. Remember, Cassidy has become one of the more vocal Trump critics since losing his primary. He was one of the four Republicans to vote to limit Trump’s Iran war powers.
Cassidy’s description of the blowup: “He did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice. I lost my temper, that’s not appropriate — it’s the Irish in me,” Cassidy said. “I matched his tone and his volume, and it went back and forth.” He says the fight also turned personal.
CNN’s Manu Raju reports that Trump called Cassidy a “lunatic” and Cassidy referred to Trump as “brother.” Trump then told him he’s not his brother. Read more on the Trump-Cassidy fight
Shortly after the blowup, Cassidy received a briefing on the war in Iran from Vice President Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House.
THE SENATE IS OUTTA HERE:
The Senate worked late last night to wrap up its votes. Senators then left town for a two-week recess!
