A closed-door lunch organized by Rick Scott veered off course when Donald Trump arrived angry over a symbolic Iran-war vote and spent much of the meeting venting at Republican senators.
Scott had planned to focus the session on three items — the filibuster, the SAVE America Act and avoiding a government shutdown — but attendees said Trump instead sparred with retiring Sen. Bill Cassidy and offered little policy back-and-forth.
Hours later, Republicans defeated a separate Iran war-powers resolution, which Scott called one positive outcome, and he predicted renewed pressure on the SAVE America Act, Trump’s top legislative priority.
Scott said the bill’s best chance is a talking-filibuster strategy that could consume August, though many Republicans remain frustrated with the monthslong fight and Thune has avoided votes likely to split the conference.
The episode also underscored Scott’s growing clout through the Senate Steering Committee and his ties to Trump’s White House, even after failed leadership bids that drew 10 votes in 2022 and 13 in 2024.