After President Donald Trump called out several Republicans by name and demanded they be run out of office, most are shrugging off his threat. One is even poking fun at the president.
Semafor reported Thursday that despite Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) all risking Trump's ire to vote with Democrats for a war powers resolution blocking Trump's ability to wage war in Venezuela, they all stand by their decision. Hawley told the outlet he didn't take "any offense" to Trump's Truth Social post saying he "should never be elected to office again." While the
"I think he’s got a temper," Paul said of the president's post. "It’s a position that was not directed at him — you can see how he might think it’s a personal affront to him — but I’ve been talking about this issue for decades."
Collins told Semafor that she paid close attention to Trump's comment to the New York Times that he wasn't ruling out committing troops to Venezuela for the long term. She added that her vote was also influenced by Trump being cagey about whether he would use the military to occupy Greenland.
"I guess this means that he would prefer to have Governor [Janet] Mills or somebody else [in the Senate]," Collins said of Trump's threat to campaign against her.
"When the president raises the issue, as he has with not only Venezuela, but Greenland, of military force being used, then it does implicate the War Powers Act and Congress’ constitutional role," she added.
Sen. Young also brushed off Trump's attack earlier on Thursday, telling CNN reporter Manu Raju: "I don't have any comments. I don't have any concerns."
"The President and members of his team have stated that the United States now ‘runs’ Venezuela. It is unclear if that means that an American military presence will be required to stabilize the country," Young said in an official statement. "I – along with what I believe to be the vast majority of Hoosiers – am not prepared to commit American troops to that mission."
Click here to read Semafor's full report in its entirety.
