Tennessee Republican Threw Wrench Into Shutdown Vote Because He Was ‘Mad’ At Trump, Congressman Says

Tennessee’s Republican congressman John Rose was originally a “no” vote on the move to get the spending package up for a final vote before going to the president. In the room with leadership, he switched his vote to “yes.”

It wasn’t due to a change in heart on the spending proposal, according to Republican congressman with knowledge of the conversation. Rose, according to the Republican colleague, planned to vote “no” in protest of positive comments that Trump made about his gubernatorial primary opponent, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn.

The congressman, who provided details of the situation on background, said Rose “was just mad because the president had not endorsed him.”

The congressman said that Rose was able to leverage his stance into a meeting with Republican leadership, which CNN also confirmed with Rose directly. Rose said the meeting centered on his frustrations that the SAVE Act not be tacked onto the package, but also said that the gubernatorial race was discussed.

“John is engaged in a tight race for the governorship of Tennessee,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

“He’s thoughtful about that and he wants a fair fight there and so that’s what we discussed, but no promises,” when reporters asked about Rose’s flip on Tuesday.

“You can imagine what that means,” Rose told CNN in response to Johnson’s “fair fight” comments.

The Republican lawmaker said that Trump was not part of the conversations to get Rose to flip. A White House official confirmed to The Daily Wire on background that the president and Rose “did not speak” on Tuesday.

The president has yet to make an official endorsement in the race, but the recent positive comments about Blackburn fueled endorsement speculation, including in the Knoxville News Sentinel.

“Marsha Blackburn is an incredible person. Unfortunately, she is running for governor. She is running for governor of Tennessee,” the president said at the Trump Accounts summit last week.

“I’d love her not to, I begged her, I said Marsha, ‘Don’t, we don’t want to lose you in the Senate,’ but I have to say, they’re lucky. They’re lucky to get you. Because you’re a talent and a great person, and you’ve been with me all the way, and I appreciate it, and you’re a very special person. Marsha, stand up, please,” he continued.

The Republican congressman said Rose “took that as an endorsement.”

The procedural vote ended up squeaking by with just 217 votes, as Republicans hold a narrow 218 majority. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) voted against the rule, along with all Democrats. The actual spending package vote passed with 217, but with bipartisan support and opposition.

The Daily Wire reached out to Rose’s office and his campaign for comment.

A January poll of 559 Republican primary voters shows Blackburn leading Rose with 56% compared with his 9%, according to The Beacon Center of Tennessee. The Cook Political Report ranked the general election race as “Solid Republican.”

Rose was part of the group of GOP lawmakers that wanted the act included in the spending package as a way to get it up for a Senate vote. The legislation, which would require nationwide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, has already passed the House but has yet to be voted on in the Senate.

On X, Rose wrote that Senate Majority Leader John Thune “is already backtracking on what he reportedly told some House Republicans: that if we reopened the government, he’d keep his word and bring the SAVE Act to the floor.”

“House Republicans MUST hold the line and refuse to fold on something as fundamental as election integrity. The SAVE Act belongs on must-pass legislation,” he added.

The House voted to end the shutdown on Tuesday afternoon, as Congress gears up for a battle over Department of Homeland Security funding, which was only approved through Feb. 13.