Trump’s Iron Grip on GOP Shows Cracks as Republicans Defy Him on Venezuela and Health Care

President Donald Trump faced an unusually public wave of Republican defections this week as members of both chambers of Congress crossed party lines on several high-profile votes. The combination of Senate and House rebukes — though not yet decisive in lawmaking terms — signals an erosion of the near-total party control Trump has depended on.

Key Developments

Senate Revolts Over Venezuela: Five Senate Republicans voted to advance a measure that would limit the president’s authority to carry out additional military strikes in Venezuela. That move prompted an unusually sharp public rebuke from Trump, who said the five "should never be elected to office again." The measure is expected to reach final passage in the Senate next week.

House Pushback On Vetoes And Health Care: In the House, three separate votes exposed notable GOP dissents: attempts to override two of the president’s vetoes on local projects and a larger vote to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for three years. Trump lost the support of 35, 24 and 17 House Republicans on those three votes, respectively. The ACA-subsidy measure passed 230-196, increasing pressure on the White House to accept an outcome it has long resisted.

Notable Names And Signals: Among senators singled out by Trump was Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a potential 2026 target, and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri — an often-loyal Trump ally who nonetheless voted to advance the Venezuela measure. In the House, some Republicans signaled opposition earlier by signing a discharge petition filed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a striking act of defiance in itself.

Context And Consequences

Many of these defections are symbolic: even if both chambers were to pass identical measures to constrain the president, he could still veto them. Yet symbolism matters in politics. These votes undercut the leverage of threats of military force and signal that some Republicans are willing to put policy or electoral concerns ahead of strict party fealty.

Other Developments: Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina secured, by unanimous consent, a long-delayed plaque honoring law enforcement who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — notable in light of the White House’s recent attempt to recast the events of that day. On foreign policy, several Senate Republicans publicly criticized the president’s rhetoric about adding Greenland to U.S. territory, calling the talk both impractical and damaging to alliances like NATO.

Pressure, Not Yet Defeat: There is limited evidence so far that these crossovers have compelled Trump to reverse course. CNN’s Annie Grayer reported that threats from the president after the Senate war-powers vote discouraged some House Republicans from pursuing veto overrides. Still, the coordinated and cross-chamber pushback — occurring on the same day — is unusual and increases political pressure on the White House.

What To Watch

These developments could foreshadow a new dynamic within the GOP: one in which lawmakers are increasingly willing to act independently on foreign policy and domestic priorities such as health care. If such behavior persists, it could meaningfully constrain presidential latitude and reshape intra-party politics ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Bottom line: While not yet a legislative check that overrides the White House, this wave of GOP dissent marks a notable fracture in the party’s cohesion and is likely to influence the coming debates over foreign engagement and health care policy.