In the high pressure world of U.S. politics, making a public statement that criticizes your own political party is an unthinkable insult.
When you organize dozens of your fellow party members to do it with you in a formal rebuke, it’s the political equivalent of spitting in a person’s face.
And that’s just what Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has planned for President Donald Trump.
McConnell has organized numerous Republican senators to send a message to Trump on Thursday. In doing so, the GOP lawmakers are siding with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats over the White House.
McConell and other GOP senators are set to issue a formal insult to the president regarding his foreign policy because Trump has asked for U.S. troops to being their withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. The president was critical of intelligence findings earlier this week that stated the withdrawal would lead to further security threats to the United States.
In response, politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties have united against Trump.
The proposed amendment calls the ordered withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria and Afghanistan a foolish move that “could put at risk hard-won gains and United States national security.”
Political experts see the move as an attack on the power of the White House itself by Congressional leaders who want more power for the Legislative Branch.
“Power over foreign policy has shifted to the executive branch over the last 30 years,” A Republican ally of McConnell’s told The Hill. “Many of us in the Senate want to start taking it back.”
“My amendment would also urge continued commitment from the U.S. military and our partners until we have set the conditions for the enduring defeat of these vile terrorists,” McConnell said.
“We are the leader of the free world, and it’s incumbent upon the United Stares to lead, to maintain a global coalition against terror and to stand with our partners engaged in a daily fight against terrorists,” he continued.
In his stunning rebuke of the president, McConnell has sided with Schumer over his own party’s political leader.
Schumer sent a letter to the intelligence community leadership on Wednesday which called on them to have an “intervention” on Trump.
It’s past time for U.S. Intelligence Community leaders to stage an intervention with @realDonaldTrump.
My letter to Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence: pic.twitter.com/RVC2WvVcj7
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2019
Who do YOU agree with?
Trump and his order for U.S. troops to withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan?
Or do you agree with the intelligence community findings that such a withdrawal is short-sighted?
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Do you agree with Donald Trump?
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