The Telegraph
Republican senators give a blow to Donald Trump, who for the first time dominates his veto
Donald Trump was given a scathing reprimand by Republican senators last night when Congress dominated his veto of a comprehensive defense bill. It was the first time in Trump’s four years as president that Congress had blocked his veto. Many Republican senators joined the Democrats in a 81-13 vote to replace, more than the required two-thirds majority. As a result, the $ 740 billion annual national defense authorization law to fund the military in 2021 becomes law. Mr Trump called the expected outcome a “shameful act of cowardice” and “weak” Republican leadership in Congress. The bill provides for a three percent increase for U.S. troops and includes elements regarding defense policy, troop levels, weapons systems, and military construction. Mr. Trump vetoed it, arguing that it would allow the renaming of military bases to honor the Confederate generals, and that it would limit his ability to bring troops home from Afghanistan and Germany. He also tried to link the bill to measures aimed at social media businesses. During the period of mr. Trump was Republican senators very reluctant to break up with him like that in public. He has vetoed eight previous bills and nothing has been dominated. But with less than three weeks in office, Trump’s influence on Republican senators has apparently waned significantly. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said: “It is time for us to deliver this bill. It is our chance to remind brave service members and their families that we have their backs.” That came when Republicans also faced a deep rift over Trump’s latest attempt to overthrow the US presidential election result. More than 140 Republicans in the House of Representatives are possibly ready to support a move not to confirm the outcome at a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, it emerged. But even with the degree of support, the attempt to block the result has not yet had a chance of success. Mr McConnell privately urged colleagues to accept the outcome of the election, calling his own vote on January 6 the “most important I have ever cast”. In an open letter, Ben Sasse, the Republican senator from Nebraska, accused colleagues of “playing with fire.” He said: “Let’s be clear what’s going on here. We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think there’s a quick way to use the president’s populist base without doing real long – term damage. But they’re wrong. . ” Adults should not aim a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government. ‘The move to oppose the election results was sparked by Josh Hawley, a Republican senator from Missouri. vote in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives. The session in Congress will take place a day after two races in Georgia, which will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate. David Perdue, one of two Republican candidates, announced he would spend the last days of the campaign in quarantine after possible exposure to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, it appeared that personnel changes had to be made to the presidential details of the secret service when Joe Biden took office on January 20th. said he had expressed concern that current agents Trump Mr. Mr Trump cut short a trip to Florida and returned to Washington on New Year’s Eve. In a New Year’s video message, he praised ‘historic victories’ on the economy and fought the pandemic. He said: “We must be remembered for what was done.” In the last weeks of his term, the president also had an ongoing battle with Republicans in Congress, including Mr. McConnell, faced after asking Americans to do an increase in stimulation tests. He also faced increasing friction with Iran.