Trump Calls Republican a 'Lunatic' in Chaotic Senate Meeting
June 24, 2026
Congress managed to briefly break its usual gridlock this week when the Senate agreed to pass a bipartisan housing-affordability bill. The legislation was expected to have an easy journey through the House of Representatives and to the desk of Donald Trump, who is itching for a legislative win amid a series of embarrassing and unpopular policy blunders.
But just hours before the signing ceremony, Trump abruptly scuttled the first victory his party has had in months, saying he won’t sign the bill until the Senate passes the unpopular, electorally poisonous SAVE Act.
“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump wrote Wednesday afternoon on Truth Social.
The SAVE Act, or the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, is a transformative electoral reform package that, if passed, would immediately nullify the voter registrations of millions of Americans by requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. It would also mandate that voters present a form of ID when they cast their ballots, and would facilitate frivolous lawsuits against local election officials for potentially violating the bill’s stringent requirements.
Trump has repeatedly pushed Republicans to force the legislation though in an attempt to quite literally reset the electorate in the middle of an election year in which Republicans are expected to severely underperform. Lawmakers are naturally skeptical of the ploy, which would likely be the subject of a series of court challenges. The president has not been able to get anywhere near the 60-vote threshold he would need to force the legislation through the Senate, or draw support for his demand that the GOP eliminate the filibuster.
Now, he’s sabotaging a piece of bipartisan legislation that not only would have actually passed, but that also would have addressed the affordability crisis — at least in part.
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“It says to me that Donald Trump just doesn’t care about the cost squeeze on American families. This is the guy who said affordability is a made-up word that Democrats came up with. Affordability is a hoax,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the primary Democratic sponsor of the bill in the Senate, told MS NOW of Trump’s scuttling the bill. “He said he loves the inflation. Yes, he does. He doesn’t care about high prices for millions of people across this country. What he does care about is Donald Trump and nothing else. And that’s what today’s cancellation of the signing ceremony is all about.”
Even Republicans seem infuriated by the president’s about-face, as many of them were presumably hoping to campaign on the legislation this election cycle. “We saw glimpses of this during Trump’s first administration, but never in my lifetime have I seen a president so deliberately attempt to lose majorities for his own party,” one anonymous senior Republican Senate aide told reporters.
Speaking to Punchbowl News, one GOP senator described a meltdown “venting session” against the president that took place during the closed-door lunch Trump attended on Capitol Hill. According to reports from within the room, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his bid for reelection to a Trump-backed primary challenger, got into a full-blown shouting match with the president, with Trump calling him a “lunatic” in response, per CNN.
“He raised his voice. I lost my temper. That’s not appropriate. It’s the Irish in me, but I again matched his tone and his volume,” Cassidy said of the incident. “I am sticking up for the American people, even if I’m speaking to the president,” he added.
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The spat was reportedly prompted by questions about a nonbinding Senate resolution passed on Tuesday that rebuked Trump’s war against Iran. Cassidy relayed to reporters that he had questioned Trump about the length of the war and his public statements about it. “It was supposed to last for four weeks, it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved. And I want to know what’s going on. He did not particularly care for my comments” the senator said.
Discussion of the war powers resolution dominated the meeting. Trump also reportedly attacked Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) for missing the resolution vote, even though McCormick — who was literally campaigning with Trump in Pennsylvania the day the resolution came to the floor — would not have made a difference in its passage.
Lawmakers in the room on Wednesday told CBS News that Trump told GOP senators that he felt Tuesday’s vote had “undermined” him. It seems he chose to return the favor in the form of nixing the housing affordability vote.
Cassidy confronted Trump, but other Republicans seem willing to let Trump hoist himself with his own petard. “If you don’t have the votes, sir, you don’t have the votes,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters. “It causes me to wonder if we were to pass the SAVE Act tomorrow, if he wouldn’t find yet another reason for what I think he really is seeking, which is for us to blow up the filibuster, and I’m certainly not giving my consent to that.”
Sen. Susane Collins (R-Maine), who is facing a viable challenge to her long-held seat from Democratic candidate Graham Platner, told reporters that Trump’s move “makes no sense.”
“This bill has very strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The primary author is a Republican senator, and it addresses an issue that affects many American families who find the cost of housing to be a tremendous burden,” she added.
But while Senate Republicans fume, House Leader Mike Johnson (R-La.) is ready to reassume his role as the president’s most-favored lap dog. On Wednesday, Johnson indicated he was considering forcing the SAVE Act through Congress by packaging it in an upcoming reconciliation bill, allowing it to potentially circumvent the 60-vote majority needed in the Senate.
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“House Republicans will put together a reconciliation bill, reconciliation 3.0, that will have that,” Johnson mused. According to Punchbowl News, Johnson was clued into the real reason Trump tried to tank the landmark housing bill. According to several sources who heard Johnson quoting the president’s viewpoint: “No one gives a shit about housing.”
Trump addressed his decision to kill the bill while speaking with reporters in the Oval Office. “I said I’m not signing it,” he said. “I made billions of dollars with housing. I know housing better than anybody maybe anywhere. It’s all about the interest rates. Lower interest rates. I don’t want to hurt people that own houses either. These people, for the first time in their lives, they have valuable houses. They become rich. I don’t want to hurt them either.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
