Washington, United States. Republican lawmakers in Congress are showing a greater willingness to break with President Donald Trump, opposing him on Iran, spending, surveillance and aid to Ukraine.
Over the past week, several Republican factions in the Senate and House of Representatives rebuked Trump’s war against Iran, rejected £1 billion in funding linked to a White House ballroom, forced a retreat on his £1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, and blocked his domestic spying legislation.
Congressional resistance
The House also defied Trump on Thursday by passing a bill to provide aid to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia. The measure now appears likely to face a presidential veto.
Republicans and Democrats remain skeptical that Trump is facing a full revolt. However, a growing coalition of Republicans has shown a willingness to oppose him, including lawmakers whom Trump personally helped push out of office.
Election-year pressures
Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who announced his retirement last year after opposing the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” said lawmakers would vote in the way they believe their constituents want as the election approaches.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the dissent reflected election-year politics and noted that not every member would absorb the political cost on every issue.
Democratic response and White House stance
Democrats largely dismissed the idea of a significant party split, saying there is no evidence that the broader Republican party is willing to defy Trump on major issues.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who at times supports Trump-backed initiatives, said those breaking with Trump are the same people he pushed out, which he said demonstrates the president’s control over the party.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the media and Democrats are trying to create divisions that do not exist and said the administration expects to continue its close relationship with Congress to advance Trump’s agenda.
Longstanding party support
For years, Republican lawmakers have publicly backed Trump by supporting controversial cabinet picks, offering little resistance to his executive orders, and approving his signature legislation despite concerns about the growing deficit and cuts to the Medicaid healthcare programme for low-income Americans.
