Photo: AP
The Senate overwhelmingly rejects Donald Trump’s veto of military funding, the first override of Trump during his term in office.
The chamber voted 81-13, with most Republicans joining Democrats in the override. Only seven GOP legislators voted to sustain the veto.
The House had overridden Trump on Monday in a 322-87 vote for the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act.
Earlier this week Trump withdrew his threat to veto a $900 billion Coronavirus relief bill, after Republicans stood behind the interim measure.
See also Trump Backs Down, Signs Coronavirus Relief and Government Funding Bill
Stung by the defeats, Trump lashed out at the second-ranking Republican Senator, John Thune of South Dakota. His call for Gov. Kristi Noem, a diehard Trump backer, to defeat Thune in a primary could be a sign of a forthcoming battle between Trumpists and other Republicans within the GOP.
I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota @KristiNoem, run against RINO @SenJohnThune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2021
See also EA on BBC: The Trumpist Threat to the US System
Trump’s Election Rant
Attention now turns to the seating of the new Congress on Sunday, the two Georgia run-off elections on Tuesday determining control of the Senate, and the January 6 session to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
More than 140 Republican House members and at least one Senator, Josh Hawley of Missouri, are indicating that they will object to Biden’s confirmation — despite the efforts of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to dissuade them — and force a debate and vote.
See also At Least 140 GOP Legislators Will Refuse Confirmation of President-Elect Biden
Trump spent most of Friday railing on Twitter about the election, pushing disinformation, supporting Hawley, and calling on supporters to rally in Washington during the January 6 session. He shouted that State arrangements for elections were “unconstitutional” and, defying the Department of Homeland Security’s assessment of the “most secure” ballot in US history, lied about “millions of fraudulent votes”.
Meanwhile, the US Coronavirus death toll reached 347,788 and cases passed 20 million on Friday. Hospitalizations are at 125,057, close to their record level.
