The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is about to become priority one for the GOP and Trump administration.
Democrats are already playing games in the House, and now they managed to get two defectors in the Senate.
A Senator Schumer (D-NY) amendment managed to get through because Senators Hawley (R-MO) and Paul (R-KY) voted with Democrats. This is worthy of noting because Trump has been openly beefing with both of them.
Heading into this term, Paul had been fairly loyal to Trump.
Sure, there were a few instances where he did not back Trump’s play, but for the part, he was going along the party line for him, but that ended with the BBB was put on the floor.
Paul did not support the legislation, and he drew the ire of Trump for his troubles.
Trump stated, "Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting 'NO' on everything, he thinks it's good politics, but it's not.” And that was the nice part.
Again, with few exceptions, Hawley has backed Trump, but he also pushed back against legislation Trump wanted passed, blocking an investigation into the Pelosi financials.
Trump went after him as well, having posted, “Why would one ‘Republican,’ Senator Josh Hawley from the Great State of Missouri, join with all of the Democrats to block a Review, sponsored by Senator Rick Scott, and with the support of almost all other Republicans, of Nancy Pelosi’s Stock Trading over the last 25 years.”
He continued, “The information was inappropriately released just minutes before the Vote -- Very much like SABOTAGE!”
Like the House, the GOP has a very thin margin to play with in the Senate, and while I have no idea if the Trump attacks played a role in this vote, I would say it surely made them both feel better about it.
I have lost count of how many times I have begged Trump and the rest of the party to fight their battles behind closed doors, not on social media and through the media.
Being embarrassed or called out publicly never sits well with anyone, and I would bet this played into these senators digging on Schumer’s amendment regarding the Epstein files.
He stated, "There's been so much lying, obfuscation, cover-ups. The American people need to see everything that's in the Epstein files. And my amendment would make that happen."
This is no longer about Trump hiding something he did, but hiding what “someone” did, as Dems seem certain that if Trump is not in there, one of his allies is, and that is why they want these files released. Even if there is a big Democrat in those files, the fact that Trump kept them hidden will be enough for Democrats to deflect away as long as there is someone in there who can hurt Trump or the GOP in general.
