New 'Gang of Six' Republican senators threaten to derail Trump: report

A growing coalition of Republican senators is breaking ranks with President Donald Trump, threatening his legislative agenda in a narrowly divided chamber where he can ill afford to lose votes on critical issues.

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rand Paul (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) comprise what observers are calling the new "Gang of Six" — Republican dissenters who feel no obligation to the president and are willing to oppose him on key votes, wrote Wall Street Journal columnist Matthew Contenetti.

"This Gang of Six is unlike its predecessors," Contenetti wrote. "Earlier Senate gangs, from the Gang of 14 to the Gang of Eight, had quasi-official status. They were bipartisan. They capped membership. They tackled specific issues: judicial nominations in 2005, the budget in 2011 and immigration in 2013. They were proactive. Their goal was to resolve differences and advance legislation."

This informal group of dissident Republicans has no official structure, designated leader or fixed membership, and their goal will be to constrain their own party from overreach, he argued.

"Still, the trendline is clear," Contenetti wrote. "The gang is growing."

Trump's own actions helped create this bloc by threatening primary challenges against GOP incumbents and actively supporting challengers, and now the president has alienated senators who no longer fear electoral consequences. Lame-duck senators Cornyn and Tillis, having announced retirement plans, are freed from re-election concerns. When Trump endorsed challengers against Cassidy and Cornyn earlier this year, both incumbents defeated the primary threats and emerged emboldened.

The consequences are already visible, Contenetti wrote. On April 15, only Paul voted with Democrats on a resolution removing U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran. One month later, the same resolution passed 50-47, with Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski and Paul voting alongside Democrats – and the shift demonstrated the gang's growing influence.

"Republican anger at Trumpian excess delayed passage of an unrelated domestic priority," Contenetti wrote. "It was a reminder that when a president loses prestige in Congress, the effects aren’t isolated. They spill over."

GOP leaders delayed a vote on ICE and Border Patrol funding after some Republicans objected to a $1.776 billion Justice Department "weaponization fund" to compensate Biden-era lawfare victims, and Tillis called the fund a "payout pot for punks," exemplifying the party's internal divisions.

The timing of this rebellion poses significant challenges. Republicans face a crowded legislative calendar, including a $1.5 trillion defense budget and potential reconciliation legislation before midterm elections. More critically, should a Supreme Court vacancy occur, Trump can afford to lose only four Republican votes on any nominee — a margin the Gang of Six can easily breach.

In a 53-member Republican caucus, Trump has mathematically alienated more senators than he can afford to lose. His growing influence over the national party apparatus has paradoxically weakened his Senate control, creating the conditions for sustained opposition on nominations, spending bills and foreign policy decisions.

"This GOP Congress increasingly looks like the Republican congresses of recent second-term presidencies," Contenetti wrote.

"Will history repeat? Come January, Mr. Trump may find he no longer controls the agenda," he added. "But if the new Gang of Six continues to grow, he may lose control sooner than expected."