As Trump flexes his muscle on the campaign trail, he faces rare setbacks on Capitol Hill: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskAs Trump flexes his muscle on the campaign trail, he faces rare setbacks on Capitol Hill: From the Politics DeskPlus, Tulsi Gabbard becomes the fourth Cabinet official to depart the Trump administration this term. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleTrump may need to ‘personally’ get involved to fix rift with Senate Republicans: Analysis17:07Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 22, 2026, 5:00 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, Kristen Welker looks back at a week that was a mixed bag politically for President Donald Trump. Plus, we dive into the fourth Cabinet official to depart the administration this term. Programming note: We are taking Monday off for Memorial Day and will be back in your inbox on Tuesday. Enjoy the holiday weekend!Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerAs Trump flexes his muscle on the campaign trail, he faces rare setbacks on Capitol HillAnalysis by Kristen WelkerOver the past seven days, President Donald Trump has reinforced his sway with Republican primary voters by ousting two veteran lawmakers who have crossed him in the past.But that success on the campaign trail has not translated to the halls of the Capitol, where the path forward for his legislative agenda appears as tenuous as it’s ever been in his second term. The president was riding high politically earlier this week after his endorsed candidates defeated Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has broken with the White House on several key issues, and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial. Seeking to further flex his political mus...