Trump suffers major blow as 20 Republicans 'revolt' in chaotic late-night scramble

A total of 20 Republican lawmakers “revolted” against President Donald Trump early Friday morning by refusing to back a bill that would extend a controversial surveillance program, and despite the president’s explicit call for GOP lawmakers to do so, the Associated Press reported Friday.

“First they unveiled a new plan that would have extended the program for five years, with revisions,” reads the Associated Press’ report. “Then they tried to salvage a shorter 18-month renewal that Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed. Some 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in blocking its advance.”

Lawmakers were looking to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) – a law that permits national intelligence agencies to surveil overseas communications without a warrant, including those of Americans – ahead of its expiration on Monday. The deliberations lasted late into the night Thursday and into early Friday morning.

On Tuesday, Trump called on Republicans to “stick together” and to pass “a clean” extension to FISA. Instead, 20 Republicans broke with Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), joining Democrats to block the plan. The revolt forced GOP leadership to settle for a short-term extension, pushing FISA’s expiration back only a few days to April 30.

The ensuing chaos sparked some fiery reactions from House lawmakers on the House floor.

“Are you kidding me? Who the h--- is running this place?” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) as lawmakers deliberated FISA’s extension on the House floor, per the Associated Press.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) championed the bipartisan coalition that blocked Trump’s push for a longer extension to FISA, and vowed to oppose future attempts to extend the program.

“We just defeated Johnson’s efforts to sneak through a 5-year FISA authorization tonight,” Khanna said, the Associated Press reported. “Now, they will have to fight in daylight.”