Trump Meets With Senate Republicans — Admits, 'I Don't Like a Few People, but That's Okay'

President Trump stunned observers and lawmakers Wednesday when he declared he would not sign the ROAD to Housing Act, the landmark housing affordability bill which Congress had passed with bipartisan support, until the Senate pushed through the SAVE America Act. The SAVE Act is one of the president’s priorities and would place requirements for proof of citizenship and ID in order to vote.

As our Ben Smith reported, some Republicans were left fuming by Trump’s move, as the signing of the ROAD Act would be a big legislative win.

But later in the day, the president lunched with Senate Republicans and reported positive developments. Townhall’s Cameron Arcand was on the scene:

From WH pool report: https://t.co/xvA25tEdKK pic.twitter.com/sf8H58tTqf
— Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) June 24, 2026

He likes most of the people in the party — but definitely not all of them:

I think we had a really great meeting, and we're very proud of the party.
We like everybody really in the room. I don't like a few people, but that's okay. I think you know who they are. I'll give you that information someday.

.@POTUS wraps up his lunch with the @SenateGOP: "I think we had a really great meeting... We have the hottest country in the world — and we want to keep it that way." pic.twitter.com/APvMYRpJox
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2026

Trump's SAVE America Act Gambit Has Some Republicans Fuming

He continued, saying that despite some sticky issues, the GOP is mostly unified and the country is on a hot streak:

But for the most part, we have a really well unified party, and I said it very strongly. We have the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re the most powerful, we're the smartest, we're the most respected.
Two years ago, we were a laughingstock all over the world. We had a terrible group of people representing us. Every leader, I just left G7… Everyone said, what we've done in a year and a half is a miracle. We have the hottest country in the world, and we want to keep it that way.

We have more factories being built right now than we have at any point, at any time in the history of our country. And all of those factories are opening up soon. It's all jobs. And our job numbers are incredible anyway.

He also touted lowering oil prices, which have come down to their lowest levels since early March and dropped almost five percent Wednesday following the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz:

I see that oil just broke the $70 number. Who would have thought that was going to happen? And that's during a war, and Iran is being very nice. They're agreeing to everything that I want, and they have to. Otherwise, we just go back and do what we have to do. Thank you very much.

It wouldn't be complete without one of his viral Trumpian moments. I’d love to know which reporter he waved off, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was CNN’s Kaitlan Collins:

Classic @POTUS 🤣 pic.twitter.com/uU5IEdoSkY
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2026

According to Arcand, it wasn’t all buddy-buddy. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said he might have gotten a little feisty:

Cassidy confirms brush up with POTUS over Iran in Senate GOP lunch: “I lost my temper. That's not appropriate” but said he “matched [Trump’s] tone.”

He says “more information” should be shared with Americans on Iran.
— Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) June 24, 2026

Eighty percent of Americans support voter ID. Get 'er done, Senate, whether you have to nuke the filibuster or find another way. It's far past time.

.@SenTuberville: What's in the SAVE America Act needs to stay. President Trump's right here. If we don't do something with the filibuster, and we don't get things passed, it'll be the last time we have a Republican President or a Republican Congress. The ball's in our court. pic.twitter.com/7pe52mRHVi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2026

Editor’s Note: Republicans are fighting for election integrity by requiring proper identification to vote.

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