Republican senators are reacting with frustration and concern after President Donald Trump publicly criticized one of the party’s top leaders, according to reports.

Politico reported that GOP senators pushed back on Trump’s recent remarks targeting Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) over what Trump portrayed as Thune’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, a proof-of-citizenship voting bill that Trump has promoted.

The dispute highlights a recurring tension for Senate Republicans: Trump can apply public pressure to party leaders, but the Senate’s rules and vote math often limit how quickly even majority-backed legislation can move. Under Senate procedure, most bills need support beyond a simple majority to overcome procedural hurdles, giving the minority party substantial power to block or delay legislation.

Speaking at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, Trump urged attendees to "call John Thune" as he complained that "the Senate is a place you send things when you want them to die," according to Politico. Trump also told the crowd, "We're not going to take this any longer. We're not going to take it. I'm trying to be nice."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced that message on Thursday, saying Trump’s patience is "running out" with Thune.

But several Republican senators, in comments to Politico, questioned what Trump expected Thune to do to force passage of the SAVE America Act. They said the Senate leader could not simply compel members to vote for the bill.

"John can't put a gun to people's heads and make them vote a particular way," Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told Politico.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) also defended Thune and criticized the premise of Trump’s pressure campaign.

"This idea that he can just command members of the Republican conference to get in line is just a fantasy. So I think it's unfair," Cornyn said, according to Politico. "I don't know who it was that sold the president on this idea, that this was obtainable, but it's creating a circular firing squad for Republicans."

One anonymous Senate GOP aide described Trump’s pressure on Thune as "just exhausting" in remarks to Politico. "What leverage does he have over the Senate?" the aide asked.

Thune also defended his handling of the bill, pointing to the vote threshold in the Senate and arguing that Democrats were blocking the measure.

"It's 50 around here, and so instead of, you know, pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats. And if there are Republicans that they think are gettable, get on the phone," Thune said.