🚨 BREAKING: THE FORMER PRESIDENT is Facing Renewed Political Pressure After Several Republican Lawmakers Publicly Signaled Disagreement with His Recent Positions

Washington D.C. / Palm Beach – February 17, 2026

Former President Donald J. Trump is facing a fresh wave of political headwinds after a growing number of Republican lawmakers publicly distanced themselves from several of his most recent public statements and policy demands, marking what some observers are calling the most significant intra-party revolt since his removal from office under the 25th Amendment last month. The defections, which began as whispered concerns in private GOP meetings, burst into the open yesterday when at least 17 House Republicans and five senators issued statements or posted on social media criticizing Trump’s continued calls for aggressive tariffs on Canada, his denial of the 25th invocation’s legitimacy, and his demands for loyalty purges against “RINOs” who supported his removal.

The pressure cooker began boiling over during a Sunday morning appearance on Fox News where Trump reiterated his claim that the 25th Amendment action was “an illegal coup” and called for “immediate primaries” against any Republican who “betrayed” him by voting yes on disqualification proceedings under the 14th Amendment. “We need to clean house — starting with the weaklings like Graham, Collins, and Murkowski,” Trump said. “They’re destroying the party from within. Real Republicans know I’m still the leader.”

By midday Monday, the backlash was unmistakable. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a onetime Trump confidant who had already broken ranks on the 25th vote, issued a scathing statement: “I will not be intimidated by demands for purges or loyalty oaths. The former president’s positions on tariffs are damaging to American farmers and consumers, and his refusal to accept constitutional reality is hurting our party’s chances in November. Enough is enough — it’s time to move forward without the chaos.” Graham’s post on X garnered more than 1.4 million views in its first hour, with responses split between furious MAGA condemnations and supportive nods from moderates.

House Republicans, already grappling with a razor-thin 218–217 majority and the advancing impeachment articles, were even more direct. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tweeted: “Tariffs on Canada aren’t ‘winning’ — they’re killing jobs in my district. I supported Trump, but I represent South Carolina, not Mar-a-Lago. His demands for blind loyalty are outdated and destructive.” At least six other House Republicans from trade-dependent states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania echoed Mace’s sentiment in coordinated statements, with one anonymous member telling Politico: “We can’t keep defending positions that cost us votes. Trump’s not president anymore — Vance is, and we need to let him lead.”

The public signaling of disagreement has drawn intense national attention, particularly given the timing. Trump’s tariff threats have already escalated tensions with Canada, leading to retaliatory measures on U.S. agricultural exports that economists estimate could cost American farmers $2.3 billion in 2026 alone. Combined with his denial of the 25th Amendment’s validity — despite the Senate’s 43–57 vote to remove him — the positions have alienated a growing segment of the GOP base, especially suburban moderates and business conservatives who prioritize economic stability over cultural warfare.

Acting President JD Vance, who has struggled to assert independence from Trump’s shadow, issued a vague statement this afternoon: “I value input from all voices, but my focus is on policies that strengthen America. Tariffs must be targeted and strategic to avoid unnecessary harm.” Privately, Vance aides say he is “encouraged” by the Republican defections, viewing them as an opportunity to consolidate control without constant pushback from Mar-a-Lago.

Trump’s response was swift and characteristic. In a 21-post Truth Social thread beginning at 11:32 a.m. ET, he lashed out:

“The RINOs are BETRAYING me again! Graham, Mace, and the rest are WEAK losers who couldn’t win without my endorsement! They’re killing American jobs by caving to Canada’s rip-offs. I made the GOP strong — they’re destroying it! MAGA — PRIMARY every one of them in 2026!!!”

The posts have been viewed more than 76 million times, but they’ve also sparked a backlash even among some Trump loyalists. Several conservative influencers questioned the wisdom of alienating key senators ahead of the disqualification vote, with one viral thread reading: “Trump’s right on tariffs, but attacking Graham now? That’s how we lose the Senate majority.”

The renewed pressure on Trump comes amid a cascade of crises: the Senate’s 25th invocation, advancing impeachment articles in the House, ongoing property seizures in New York, mass resignations from his legal team, grand-jury activity in Georgia, and now this public GOP revolt. Political strategists say the defections signal a tipping point. “Trump’s influence was always fear-based,” said GOP consultant Sarah Longwell. “Once enough people say ‘no’ publicly, the fear evaporates. This could be the beginning of the end for his grip on the party.”

Public reaction has been overwhelming. A flash poll from Quinnipiac released this afternoon shows 61% of Republican voters believe the party should “move on from Trump’s leadership,” up 14 points from last month. Pro-Trump rallies in Florida drew thousands chanting “No retreat!” while counter-demonstrations in major cities called for “unity without Trump.”

As the disqualification vote approaches and midterms loom, the former president’s positions are under the microscope like never before. Whether this GOP disagreement fades as a temporary rift or marks the permanent fracturing of Trumpism remains the central question. For now, the renewed political pressure has ensured that Trump’s every word — and every defection — will be watched with the intensity of a nation deciding its future.