McALLEN, Texas — In the wake of a contentious Senate vote that saw five Republican senators defy President Donald Trump over military actions in Venezuela, the president engaged in a heated exchange with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The conversation, described by Thune as "very spirited," occurred shortly before Trump took to Truth Social to express his displeasure and suggest those who opposed him should not be re-elected.

The dispute arose after a surprising procedural vote on Thursday aimed at limiting the president's military options in Venezuela, signaling potential cracks in Trump's influence over GOP members. Among the dissenters were Senators Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, who had previously supported similar measures, and Senators Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young, whose votes came as more of a surprise.

In an interview on Friday, following a promotional event for last year's GOP megabill along the U.S.-Mexico border, Thune shared insights into the frustrations felt both in the White House and among Republican senators concerning the vote. "There’s a level of frustration at the White House — and with us, too, on a vote like that," he stated.

While the resolution still faces further debate in the Senate, and its passage in the House remains uncertain, the procedural vote has already fueled discussions about Trump’s waning control over his party, following a year of aggressive maneuvers against GOP dissenters in 2025.

Thune, however, remains hopeful about rallying support to block the resolution’s passage, indicating that efforts to sway the opposing senators back are underway. He emphasized the importance of addressing the constitutional and legal concerns that have been raised. "The constitutional questions, the legal questions, are being more sufficiently answered as people have probed into it," he noted.

Despite the current tensions, Thune expressed a forward-looking perspective and a commitment to unity within the party. He emphasized the significance of future votes over past disagreements. "The most important vote isn’t the last vote, it’s the next vote," Thune remarked. "At the end of the day, there are going to be a lot more votes coming, and circumstances in which we’re going to have our team united as much as possible and work with the president."

As the debate continues, all eyes will be on the Senate next week as they decide the fate of the resolution and, perhaps, the balance of power within the Republican Party.