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Senate Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with Trump blindsiding them

Trump’s order disrupted Thune’s plan to move Jay Clayton’s nomination quickly, while Thune said the votes were not there for the election bill.

Senate Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with Trump blindsiding them
Image · NBC News

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This article1 analysis · Oct 5, 2026
NBC News
Jun 17, 2026
tl;dr

President Donald Trump’s order to delay Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing disrupted Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s plans and added to Republican frustration with Trump. The dispute also reflects a broader fight over Trump’s demands for the SAVE America Act and other priorities.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
John Thune R · SD · SEN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Thune in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Thune’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader whose plans to advance Jay Clayton’s nomination were disrupted

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose orders and demands intensified tensions with Senate Republicans

Trump's version of this story ↗
Mark R. Warner
D · VA · SEN

Senate Intelligence Committee’s Democratic counterpart blaming Trump for disrupting the process

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Republican senator describing Trump’s actions as moving ahead without informing senators

Eric Schmitt
R · MO · SEN

Republican senator declining to engage in the dispute over Clayton’s hearing

Mike Rounds
R · SD · SEN

Republican senator commenting on the unusual hearing delay

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

Retiring Republican senator criticizing the delay of Clayton’s hearing

Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Senate candidate endorsed by Trump in the primary against Cornyn

Tom Cotton
R · AR · SEN

Senate Intelligence Committee chairman who announced the hearing’s postponement

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator whom Trump endorsed a primary challenger against

Cynthia M. Lummis
R · WY · SEN

Republican senator supporting Thune’s candid account of the votes for the election bill

ALSO MENTIONED  Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman defending the administration’s relationship with Senate Republicans; Bill Pulte, Trump ally and housing official who had served as acting intelligence director; Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence whose hearing was postponed

Part of a bigger story

7 OUTLETS
Trump Delays Jay Clayton Hearing and Presses for SAVE Act on FISA Renewal

Outlets agree that Trump delayed Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing, disrupting John Thune’s plans and adding to tensions among Senate Republicans. Left-leaning outlets frame the episode chiefly as a disruption to Thune’s Senate agenda, citing journalists’ critical assessment. Center outlets place it within growing tensions between Trump and Senate Republicans, with Thune navigating disputes over the voting bill and other priorities. Right-leaning outlets stress Republican frustration and uncertainty over the path forward, while also noting senators’ defense of Thune’s limits on what he can deliver.

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