WASHINGTON (AP) - The ties between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans approached a critical juncture this week after he disrupted their plans for rapid approval of one of his nominees and indicated he would withhold support for renewing an important surveillance measure without added conditions.

Trump's late-night social media message on Wednesday postponing Jay Clayton's bid to serve as national intelligence director, mere hours before the scheduled hearing for the U.S. attorney, intensified friction between the Senate and the White House that had been building over several weeks. Later that same day, certain Republican senators who had avoided direct confrontation with the president regarding the Iran conflict voiced sharp disapproval of his approach to concluding it.

"This represents one of the most significant foreign policy missteps in recent memory," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., stated in a post on X.

The visible strains mark a sharp shift from the close collaboration seen a year earlier, when Senate Republicans partnered with Trump on an intricate push to enact his extensive spending and tax reduction package.

Back then, public rebukes of the president were rare among Republicans on Capitol Hill, and they intended to showcase the bill's passage during the midterms. Yet with the November election approaching and Republicans focused on protecting their majorities, Trump is now pressing Congress through repeated demands and sudden changes, prompting several Republican senators to voice public criticism of his moves for the first time.

"It appears someone has not fully briefed the president on the intricacies involved," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., remarked Wednesday following the delay of Clayton's confirmation. "My goodness."

The gradual breakdown of what had seemed a solid partnership between the executive and legislative branches under Republican control now affects their shared policy goals.

Trump shows little engagement with much of the GOP platform and has narrowed his attention almost entirely to voting measures requiring proof of citizenship, which face slim prospects for approval. Meanwhile, he has urged lawmakers to allocate funds for elements of his White House ballroom initiative, accept an interim intelligence director lacking broad support and relinquish authority over matters related to the Iran conflict.

The widening divide has stalled much of the Senate's work and placed reelection-bound Republicans on the defensive. It has also increased demands on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has been direct with Trump about feasible Senate actions.

Trump Urges Thune on Voting Legislation

Trump has persistently pressed Thune to eliminate the filibuster and advance the strict proof-of-citizenship measure known as the SAVE America Act. Thune, R-S.D., has informed Trump both publicly and privately that sufficient support does not exist for either action. Trump has continued the effort regardless.

In a social media message Thursday, Trump stated he would be "the last Republican president" should the voting legislation fail.

"Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Senate, must prevent this outcome from occurring," Trump said. "They will be remembered unfavorably in history, along with all Republicans who remained inactive."

Even so, Trump has avoided personal attacks on the popular Republican leader, unlike his frequent criticisms of Thune's predecessor, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Trump previously described McConnell as a "dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack."

Trump and Thune communicate often, even when Thune delivers unwelcome updates to the president. In response to Trump's push for the voting bill, Thune allocated multiple weeks of floor time for its consideration to demonstrate Senate engagement despite limited support.

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, among the president's strongest Senate supporters, noted he has not heard Trump express any negative views toward Thune.

"It is a challenging role," Schmitt said of Thune's Senate position. "I believe they maintain a constructive working relationship."

One of Thune's key allies, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, described the steady leader as "the appropriate individual for this moment."

"In the Capitol today, he provides stability," Rounds said. "In Washington, D.C., today, he provides stability."

No Indications of Senate GOP Rebellion

No evidence of an internal GOP uprising has appeared so far, despite Trump's demands.

Thune "has handled the situation more effectively than others might have," said Cassidy, who has increased his critiques of Trump following a primary defeat to a Trump-endorsed opponent.

Disapproval of Trump has occasionally appeared even among his strongest Senate backers, particularly concerning his proposed $1.776 billion settlement fund for political associates and his selection for acting intelligence director, Bill Pulte, who lacks established intelligence background.

The divide with Trump has also created fresh internal divisions.

Multiple Republican senators questioned Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, during a private conference lunch this week for fueling party discord in an election year through his online advocacy to end the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act.

Trump's Shrinking Circle of Supporters

Some Senate Republicans have stated they have no intention of distancing themselves from Trump.

As several colleagues criticized Trump's Iran agreement this week, first-term Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, strongly defended it on social media.

"Let's prepare the Nobel Peace Prize!" Moreno posted on X.

Yet Trump counts fewer such Senate supporters than during the narrow passage of the tax and spending legislation a year ago. This stems partly from his own actions against some of his most loyal Republican backers.

Both Cassidy and Texas Sen. John Cornyn lost primaries last month after Trump backed their challengers. Tillis declared he would not seek reelection last year following repeated social media attacks from Trump.

All three have since become regular critics.

Shortly after his primary defeat, Cornyn shared a social media post featuring a fable about a frog and a scorpion. In the tale, the scorpion requests a ride across a river from the frog and then stings it midway, "dooming them both."

"The dying frog inquires why the scorpion stung despite the known risks," Cornyn's post stated. "The scorpion replies: 'I am sorry, but I could not resist. It is my nature.'"

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