WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump issued the first vetoes of his second term on Tuesday, rejecting two low-profile bipartisan bills, a move that had the effect of punishing backers who had opposed the president’s positions on other issues. Trump vetoed drinking water pipeline legislation from Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a longtime ally who broke with the president in November to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He also vetoed legislation that would have given the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida more control of some of its tribal lands. The tribe was among groups suing the administration over an immigration detention center in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz. Both bills had bipartisan support and had been noncontroversial until the White House announced Trump’s vetoes Tuesday night. Trump acknowledged the tribe’s opposition to the detention facility in a letter to Congress. He raised concerns about the cost of the water pipeline at the heart of that bill, which aimed to improve access to clean drinking water in eastern Colorado. Boebert, one of four House Republicans who sided with House Democrats early on to force the release of the Epstein files, suggested that the veto may have been political retaliation. The Florida legislation had been sponsored by Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, whom Trump has endorsed. When asked whether the vetoes were punishment, the White House did not answer and referred instead to Trump’s statements explaining the vetoes. Congress can override the vetoes by a two-thirds majority vote, but it's unclear if there's sufficient support in the Republican-controlled chambers.
Trump's First Vetoes Send Political Shockwaves
In a surprising political maneuver, President Donald Trump issued his first vetoes of his second term, rejecting two bipartisan bills that aimed to improve access to resources for his political allies and tribal lands.
President Donald Trump has issued his first vetoes during his second term, targeting bipartisan legislation that included a water pipeline bill and a land management bill for the Miccosukee Tribe. The vetoes have raised concerns about political retaliation against lawmakers who opposed Trump's stance on various issues. The Water Conduit Act aimed to secure clean drinking water for Colorado residents, while the bill regarding the Miccosukee Tribe sought more control over tribal lands. Trump's administration has not confirmed whether these vetoes are indeed politically motivated.
