On Monday, Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) defended his opposition to the use of executive orders by Donald Trump to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the wake of the President calling out the Republican over his criticism.
Sasse observed in a tweet from his campaign account, signed “Gym Rat,” that he would rather have the discussion with Trump privately, but “since you moved our conversation from private to public, here we are.”
“On the topic that had you mad this weekend: No president — whether named Obama or Trump or Biden or AOC — has unilateral power to rewrite immigration law or to cut taxes or to raise taxes. This is because America doesn’t have kings,” Team Sasse tweeted.
Mr. President-
I understand that you’re mad. A few thoughts….
⁰⁰(1) As we’ve discussed before, I don’t think Twitter is the best place to do this. But, since you moved our conversation from private to public, here we are.
(2)…https://t.co/AYF2ApdRR2 pic.twitter.com/2rtiPuhJJB— Team Sasse (@TeamSasse) August 10, 2020
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Trump: ‘RINO Ben Sasse’
Sasse’s message comes after Trump lashed out at him on Twitter Monday morning.
“RINO Ben Sasse, who needed my support and endorsement in order to get the Republican nomination for Senate from the GREAT State of Nebraska, has, now that he’s got it (Thank you President T), gone rogue, again,” Trump tweeted.
“This foolishness plays right into the hands of the Radical Left Dems!” the President added.
RINO Ben Sasse, who needed my support and endorsement in order to get the Republican nomination for Senate from the GREAT State of Nebraska, has, now that he’s got it (Thank you President T), gone rogue, again. This foolishness plays right into the hands of the Radical Left Dems!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020
Sasse says he doesn’t need Trump’s support to win his re-election
After Trump issued a number of executive orders to extend unemployment benefits, defer payroll tax collection and offer other financial assistance to students, Sasse called the President’s actions “unconstitutional slop.”
“President Obama did not have the power to unilaterally rewrite immigration law with DACA, and President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law,” Sasse said, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
On Monday, Sasse also took issue with Trump saying that the senator needed Trump’s “support and endorsement” in order to win his party’s nomination.
Sasse hits back at Trump, says he 'never asked' for his endorsement https://t.co/CIJa5NayYq @FoxNews #AAG #AAG2020
— All American Girl (@AIIAmericanGirI) August 10, 2020
Sasse says his disagreements with Trump aren’t ‘personal’
“I understand you’ve been frustrated that I didn’t join your re-election committee & that I ran a primary ad admitting to Nebraskans that we sometimes agree and sometimes disagree,” Sasse wrote. “You also know I never asked for your endorsement nor did I use it in the campaign.”
Sasse insisted that his disagreements with Trump weren’t “personal.”
“You also know that I’ve never asked you for anything personal,” Sasse said. “I have pleaded with you but for bigger things like better U.S. policy on the Chinese Communist Party — and on this, you’ve done a very good job.”