Trump’s Midnight Move Shatters GOP Unity Ahead of Critical Spy Bill Vote

Washington D.C., Thursday, 18 June 2026.
In a dramatic late-night reversal, President Trump withdrew support for a key surveillance bill after Senate Republicans refused to attach voter ID legislation, deepening a rift with Majority Leader John Thune. The standoff has paralyzed Congress, delaying national security measures and economic policies just months before midterms. Insiders call the chaos ‘unprecedented,’ with Trump’s demands—including blocking his own intelligence nominee—leaving allies stunned and investors wary of prolonged gridlock.