GOP senators flummoxed by Trump’s housing bill threat: ‘Inexplicable,’ ‘makes no sense’

Senate Republicans expressed shock and bewilderment over President Trump’s threat not to sign a highly touted bill to address housing affordability, describing the move as “inexplicable” and making “no sense” at a time when voters are worried about rising costs.

GOP senators took some solace in the fact that Trump only canceled a signing ceremony for the bill and didn’t outright threaten to veto it, which means — unless Trump raises his veto pen — the legislation will become law after 10 days.

But Senate Republicans expressed concern that Trump’s refusal to sign a bill that passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan majorities and that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has touted as a major GOP accomplishment sends a bad political message to voters before the midterm elections.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Trump’s out-of-the-blue threat not to sign legislation that he had endorsed earlier this year was “inexplicable.”

“I don’t know if there’s a precedent for it,” Cornyn said.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Trump’s threat “makes no sense” because the bill would address a core concern of voters before the election.

“It makes no sense. This bill has very strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The primary author is a Republican senator and it addresses an issue that affects many American families who find the cost........

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