A new poll showing 31% approval for President Donald Trump’s job performance is landing as Senate Republicans fracture over his $1.776 billion slush fund and related White House projects. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes pointed to GOP lawmakers increasingly feeling aliena
For Chris Hayes, the numbers came with an unmistakable chill. On Thursday’s broadcast, the “All In” host pointed to fresh polling and framed it as evidence that President Donald Trump’s political footing is getting shakier—among voters and, increasingly, among his own party.
“His approval rating is already in the 30s,” Hayes said. “Today, he hit a new low of 31% approval in one poll. That’s below freezing!” He tied that reaction to economic anxiety as well, saying gas prices weren’t getting cheaper while Trump tried to project everything was fine.
The poll Hayes cited was published Thursday by the American Research Group. It found that only 31% of Americans registered to vote approve of the way Trump is doing his job. Hayes then emphasized a second. more uncomfortable reality for the White House: a growing number of GOP lawmakers appear to feel the same strain.
“It could not be clearer that Trump has completely alienated Senate Republicans. ” Hayes said. adding that many lawmakers may now be looking for payback. He described an account from an anonymous member of the Senate GOP caucus. who—after what Hayes called a “catastrophic caucus lunch” on Tuesday—texted a Punchbowl News reporter saying the “majority is quote. ‘melting down.’”.
Hayes connected the political fraying to Tuesday’s Senate action on Iran-related legislation. saying the advancement included more Republicans defying the president. One of the lawmakers he highlighted was Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who switched sides after losing a primary in which Trump endorsed his opponent.
The fallout he described is not limited to Iran votes. Hayes also said Democrats could soon collect enough support for a bipartisan bill to block Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” A new lawsuit alleges the fund would be used to finance far-right extremists who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
He pointed to GOP reactions inside the chamber. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) had already called the fund “stupid on stilts” earlier this week and “absurd” for potentially benefiting people who assaulted police officers. Hayes also said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) might distance herself from Trump ahead of her reelection.
In Hayes’ telling. the expanding rift among Senate Republicans sets up a difficult operational problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Hayes argued Thune is caught between two competing realities—he currently doesn’t have the votes to affirm Trump’s slush fund. but he “likely does not have the votes to stop a bill blocking it.”.
Hayes then zeroed in on what he described as Thune’s immediate response. He said Thune “just sent everyone home for the rest of the month,” framing it as a way to prevent a vote from happening while the Senate isn’t in session.
“The problem is, it’s not going to go away,” Hayes continued. He argued the dispute will likely grow as the midterms approach, especially because, in his view, Trump “seems to get less popular by the day.”
At the center of the conflict are the mounting pressures over Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund and the White House ballroom project. elements Hayes said are helping drive both voter backlash and internal GOP discomfort—until Senate leadership is left to manage a rebellion that won’t simply disappear when the calendar turns.
Donald Trump slush fund Senate Republicans John Thune Bill Cassidy Thom Tillis Susan Collins Anti-Weaponization Fund Jan. 6 Iran legislation midterms approval rating American Research Group Chris Hayes
31%? Like how is that even real math.
So the GOP is mad because of some slush fund and then they’re mad at Trump? I mean this is what happens when everyone pretends it’s fine. Gas prices too like yeah shocking.
Wait, Thune is facing a bind?? I thought Thune was just a guy in the Senate, not like legally bound to anything. Also the article says Iran legislation but then it’s about a “slush fund” so which one is the real issue? Seems like MSNBC just strings it all together.
Anonymous text says “majority is melting down” lol ok so that’s basically confirmed reality? I swear every headline is always about GOP fractures like it’s a soap opera. But if Cassidy switched sides after a primary, that could’ve happened anyway, not because of some lunch or whatever. Also approval polls are always trash, they’ll change by next week.