45th President Donald Trump issued a statement via email from his “Save America” PAC Tuesday, criticizing Republican senators for engaging with Joe Biden and the White House in talks for an alleged bipartisan infrastructure deal, saying they “are being played with, and used by, the Radical Left”.
The former president weighed in on the negotiations just as the White House is hustling to keep enough Republicans on board so the final bill has a chance of overcoming the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America:
So sad to see certain RINO Republican Senators go back and forth to the White House and continually get nothing for infrastructure or anything else.
When will they learn that they are being played with, and used by, the Radical Left—and only bad things can happen.
Should have never lost the Senate in the first place, thanks Mitch! New leadership is needed, and fast!
Trump’s statement may give cover to some of his allies in the Senate to dig in against the deal, which was briefly imperiled by Biden saying he would not sign a bipartisan package unless a reconciliation bill came to his desk that would have more Democratic priorities, The Hill reported. Continued Below
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch Trump ally, was among 11 GOP senators who backed the initial framework for an infrastructure deal, but he has since expressed reluctance about voting for it if Democrats will push through a more partisan reconciliation bill.
“If reports are accurate that President Biden is refusing to sign a bipartisan deal unless reconciliation is also passed, that would be the ultimate deal breaker for me. I don’t mind working with the other side for the common good, but I’m not going to be extorted by liberal Democrats or anyone else. So much for President Biden as the moderate deal-maker!” Graham wrote on Twitter last week.
He declared: “No deal by extortion! It was never suggested to me during these negotiations that President Biden was holding hostage the bipartisan infrastructure proposal unless a liberal reconciliation package was also passed. can’t imagine any other Republican had that impression.” Continued Below
Senator Graham added: “I can’t believe the Biden Administration expects such an obvious bait and switch tactic – motivated by fear of the Left – to work in the Senate and be respected by the American people. Between fear of the Left and general incompetence, the last six months of the Biden Administration have been a disaster both at home and abroad for our economy and foreign policy.”
Biden has since walked back his comments, and the White House has spent the early part of this week reaching out to staff on Capitol Hill and members of both parties to nail down support for the bipartisan deal, according to The Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Monday that he hasn’t yet made a decision on whether to support the infrastructure deal between Biden and the bipartisan group of senators, but that he has concerns about how it’s being paid for.
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Screenshot of President Donald Trump’s email statement:
Senator Lindsey Graham’s tweets:
I don't mind working with the other side for the common good, but I'm not going to be extorted by liberal Democrats or anyone else.
So much for President Biden as the moderate deal-maker!
https://t.co/mQ850kbZGw— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 24, 2021
No deal by extortion!
It was never suggested to me during these negotiations that President Biden was holding hostage the bipartisan infrastructure proposal unless a liberal reconciliation package was also passed. https://t.co/JgYFma6oI0
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 25, 2021
Between fear of the Left and general incompetence, the last six months of the Biden Administration have been a disaster both at home and abroad for our economy and foreign policy.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 25, 2021
