The Daily Punch What John Thune offered Donald Trump
Mar 23, 2026
A Senate offer to fund DHS minus ICE and the surprising presidential rejection. The political fallout of deploying ICE at airports and how that shifts responsibility. The looming FISA authority expiration and tense House maneuvering. A push for a formal housing conference and the electoral stakes of stalled housing legislation.
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Thune's Split-Funding Offer To Break DHS Impasse
- John Thune offered a new compromise to fund DHS but exclude ICE, proposing ICE funding be delayed to reconciliation.
- Thune told Trump Democrats would accept this split, but Trump refused because he wanted a larger fight including the SAVE Act.
Trump Wants A Bigger Fight Not A Quick Deal
- Trump rejected Thune's proposal because he prefers to keep fighting until the SAVE Act is attached and to hold members in Washington.
- The president explicitly wanted to leverage DHS funding to force consideration of his voter ID SAVE Act demands.
ICE Deployment Risks Politicizing Airport Chaos
- Deploying ICE agents to airports escalates tensions and politicizes travel disruptions during spring break and holidays.
- Anna Palmer warned this move could shift political ownership of the airport chaos to the president.