Trump Labels Republican Senators as ‘Losers’ and ‘Bad People’ Amid Senate Discontent

June 11, Kathmandu — US President Donald Trump appeared extremely furious on Wednesday. After a meeting with Republican senators, Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy described the president’s mood, saying, “He was as angry as a murder hornet.” According to meeting participants, Trump arrived on Capitol Hill carrying a long list of complaints against members of his own party.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s failure to pass new voting restriction legislation, deemed critical for the Republican Party’s success in the upcoming midterm elections. Additionally, he vented frustration over years-old legal disputes, criticized Republicans for rejecting the removal of the Senate filibuster rule, and pressured senators to advance stalled judicial appointments.

However, what angered him the most was the Senate, controlled by his own Republican Party, passing a resolution opposing war with Iran. The previous day, four Republican senators had voted in favor of a resolution introduced by Democrats requiring congressional approval before the president could continue or initiate military action against Iran. The measure passed 50 to 48, reflecting a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump’s war management — and it was seen as a significant setback for the president.

“Why would anyone vote in favor of the War Powers Act?” Trump angrily questioned. According to Kennedy and other participants, the president disliked being questioned, and the conversation quickly descended into shouting and heated exchanges. For a moment, senators remained silent.

Then, Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who lost a primary last month to a Trump-backed candidate, sharply criticized the president’s war management style and his failure to adequately brief Congress. “I stood up and said, ‘You haven’t told the American people what’s really going on there,’” Cassidy recalled. “It was supposed to be four weeks, now four months have passed. The initial objectives have not been met. I want to know what is really happening there.” As one of the four Republicans who voted for the war powers resolution, Cassidy said his frustration increased. According to him, senators have yet to receive a detailed briefing on the conflict, which Trump is conducting without congressional approval.

According to Cassidy and others, the president did not appreciate being questioned and the discussion swiftly escalated to shouting. Targeting Cassidy, Trump shouted, “You lost the election,” and called him a “loser.” The two engaged in a fierce argument.

“If someone tries to intimidate me, I’m not going to stand for it,” Cassidy later said. He added, “When I’m standing there in front of the president, I’m not apologizing. Even if I’m talking to the president, I’m really speaking on behalf of the American people.”

Trump’s anger was not just the result of one vote. Weeks of tension had been building between him and Senate Republicans over politics and policy. Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, the president abruptly canceled a signing ceremony for a major bipartisan housing bill, an event Republican leaders had seen as an opportunity to showcase efforts to control inflation ahead of the midterm elections. Trump’s decision undermined those plans.

While party leadership has largely stood firmly behind Trump on most issues, the war with Iran has brought internal divisions in the party to the fore. Some Republican senators who initially gave unconditional support to the president have begun emphasizing the role of Congress. During the dinner, Trump also expressed particular dissatisfaction with Pennsylvania Republican Senator Dave McCormick. McCormick’s absence from Tuesday’s close vote, which passed by a narrow margin, was a source of frustration for Trump. Although McCormick was traveling with the president at the time and would not have had enough votes to block the proposal even if he had been present and voted against it.

According to participating senators, Trump also criticized Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who voted in favor of the resolution, calling her a “very bad person.”

Senator Kennedy noted that given the timing and circumstances of the vote, the president’s anger was understandable. “He was very worried and angry about the war powers vote,” Kennedy said. “He was in serious negotiations with Iran and had to clarify to Iranian negotiators that this vote wasn’t really significant. That clearly upset him, and I don’t blame him for it.”

He added, “The president is very outspoken. He openly expressed how he felt, and I respect that. In my view, his anger was justified.”

Exiting the meeting, Trump attempted to mask the tense atmosphere. Smiling, he said, “It was really a terrific meeting.” “We are proud of our party. We like our leader. I like all the members in the room.” He concluded, “There are a few people I don’t like, but that’s okay.”