Trump Refuses to Back GOP Senate Leader for Another Term: ‘It’s Unfortunate’

President Donald Trump declined to back Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for another term as he expressed some frustration with congressional Republicans.

In an interview with Punchbowl on Thursday, Trump gave a mixed response when it came to Thune, saying he’s frustrated the Senate leader has not been able to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would put strict voter ID laws in place and new restrictions for mail-in voting.

“I don’t want to get into that necessarily,” Trump said when asked about Thune and another term.

The president said he gets along with Thune, but he’s frustrated Thune can’t get the votes to pass the legislation.

“I get along with him. It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t have the votes,” he said.

He added, “John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that. But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate.”

He also pushed for eliminating the filibuster.

“I believe strongly in terminating the filibuster, and by the way, getting SAVE America Act approved immediately, and about 400 other things in every hour of every day,” he said.

Thune has been open about not having the votes to end the filibuster or pass the SAVE Act.

Trump predicted Democrats will eliminate the filibuster if they gain control of Congress in the midterms.

“If they get in, they’re going to do it very quickly,” he said. “I would do it whether they did it or not. We would get in the next two and a half years; we would get things that nobody ever dreamt of. We would be in office for the next hundred years.”

The president also expressed doubt about Republicans’ prospects in the midterms, saying Republicans may not be motivated to vote because he’s not running.

“If I [am not running], will those people go out and vote? And that’s the one thing I can’t do. I’m going to ask them to. … The question is, will they vote? Because a lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you. … They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me,” he said.

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