Trump faces new Republican resistance in Congress as midterm pressures build

Donald Trump is facing widening opposition within his own party as Republican lawmakers in Congress, long reluctant to defy him, are showing a greater willingness to break ranks with the U.S. ​president, Reuters reported.

Just over the past week, multiple factions of Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives have stepped forward to rebuke his war against Iran, reject $1 billion ‌in funding tied to his White House ballroom, force a retreat on his $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and block his legislation on domestic spying.

The House also defied Trump by passing a bill on Thursday to provide aid to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia, a measure that seems destined for a veto by the president.

Republicans and Democrats are skeptical that Trump faces an actual revolt. But a growing coalition of Republicans is showing a willingness to break with him, including ​those Trump has personally helped to drum out of office, and could pose a threat to his most ambitious initiatives between now and Election Day.

"I think what you're seeing as you ​get closer to the election is that people are going to vote the way they think their constituents want them to," said Republican Senator Thom ⁠Tillis, who announced his retirement from the Senate last year after opposing the president's so-called One Big Beautiful Bill.

Democrats largely dismissed the idea, saying there has been no evidence that the party at ​large is willing to defy him on major issues.

"The people that are breaking with him are ones that were put out by Trump," said Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who sometimes supports Trump-backed initiatives. "That ​actually demonstrates his absolute control over the party."

One White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, chalked Republican dissent up to "election-year politics." "Not every single member will absorb the political cost on every single issue," the person said.

"While the media and Democrats attempt to sow nonexistent divisions, we look forward to continuing this close relationship to continue fulfilling President Trump's agenda," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.