WASHINGTON — A tense Senate Republican lunch Wednesday highlighted ongoing divisions within the party over key policy issues, particularly Iran and legislative strategy, as former President Donald Trump addressed senators for more than an hour without engaging in one-on-one discussions.
The event, hosted by Florida Sen. Rick Scott, came a month after Trump’s endorsement contributed to the defeat of Texas Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary runoff. Cornyn, who remained in the room during Trump’s remarks, described the former president’s address as “discursive” and more of a monologue than a dialogue, noting Trump spoke for about 75 minutes without opening the floor for direct engagement. Cornyn said Trump’s closing call for party unity contrasted with much of the content, which he characterized as divisive.
The lunch focused heavily on Iran, where disagreements between Trump and Senate Republicans have grown pronounced. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who like Cornyn lost his primary after Trump supported his challengers, engaged in a pointed exchange with Trump over a recent war powers resolution on Iran. Cassidy defended his vote against Trump’s criticisms. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a leading Iran hawk vocal of his opposition to the administration’s emerging detente, called the discussion a “spirited conversation” but declined to offer detailed comments.
Before departing, Trump briefly spoke to reporters alongside Senate Republican leaders including Majority Leader John Thune. He declared the meeting “really great” and reaffirmed his pride in the party. While acknowledging some personal disagreements, he insisted the GOP remained unified, citing falling oil prices, renewed U.S. manufacturing, and positive developments with Iran. “Iran is being very nice,” Trump said, asserting that Tehran was complying with his demands under threat of renewed military action.
Trump’s Iran strategy has sparked sharp criticism from conservatives like Cruz, who last week warned that the deal would funnel $300 billion to Iran to fund attacks against Americans—a claim Trump dismissed as uninformed and urged critics to reconsider.
Beyond Iran, Trump pressed senators to dismantle the legislative filibuster, aiming to pass the SAVE AMERICA Act, a voter ID bill facing strong Democratic opposition. Cornyn, a defender of the filibuster, ultimately signaled openness to reform to facilitate the bill’s passage, a stance that factored into Trump’s delayed endorsement during the Texas Senate primary. Trump eventually backed Attorney General Ken Paxton, who decisively defeated Cornyn and will face Democrat James Talarico in November.
Trump had planned to sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill at the Capitol Wednesday but abruptly canceled the ceremony to spotlight the SAVE Act instead, calling its passage a “National Emergency” on his social media platform. Cornyn acknowledged the housing bill’s likely passage despite the cancellation but criticized Trump’s move for sowing confusion amid calls for party unity.
The lunch exposed enduring fault lines within Senate Republicans over policy direction and party cohesion as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections.