This is one outlet's own report from Axios — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportAxios · 6h ago
Inside Trump's Senate playbook
President Trump has three go-to moves for GOP senators who frustrate him : persuade them when he can, ignore them when he must and bully them at will.
Why it matters: The approach doesn't always produce results. But it almost always provides drama .
Persuade: Trump dispatched two top deputies to the Senate GOP lunch on Wednesday to make the case, in person, for a third reconciliation bill with elements of the SAVE Act .
Then he sent in the big guns. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles huddled with the Senate GOP leaders shortly after their lunch.
What we're watching: Bullying appeared to be Trump's preferred tactic this week. By Wednesday, he was openly questioning whether Thune should remain majority leader.
Thune's best defense was to downplay his own powers.
"He thinks I can wave the magic wand," Thune told Politico. "I wish it were that easy."
Trump's penchant for bullying has emboldened some senators to stand their ground — such as John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who have blocked Blanche's nomination. Both will be out of the Senate in January.
Zoom in: Trump's anger with the Senate keeps flaring, despite Thune's success in rapidly confirming his nominees.
With Jay Clayton's confirmation as director of national intelligence, the GOP-led Senate has confirmed 515 of Trump's nominees — with another batch of 74 on the way.
That's a faster pace than the first administration and leaves only a handful of civilian nominations remaining on the Executive Calendar.
Trump now has the authority to install many of the remaining nominees in acting roles across the federal government.
Zoom out: With one week left before the August recess, Senate Republican vibes are going from bad to worse.
New polls show Americans continuing to sour on the GOP.
The MAGA base is still enraged over the SAVE Act.
Everything from the NDAA to crypto legislation is hitting roadblocks.
And Trump doesn't appear interested in easing the pressure on his own party.
The bottom line: Trump reserves the right to toggle among his three approaches, depending on his needs and mood.
And while he can ignore the Senate on some personnel, he can't ignore it on legislation. He still needs 50 votes — or, in some cases, 60.
"When crazy becomes the norm, it feels pretty routine," one GOP senator told Axios.
President TrumpGOPPersuadeTrumpSenate GOPSAVE ActThenChiefStaff Susie WilesWhen TrumpSenateIran
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