President Donald Trump launched an expletive-filled phone attack on Republican Sen. Susan Collins after she voted against one of his top priorities.
The president reportedly made a “vulgar” call to the vulnerable Republican senator on Thursday, sources told The Hill. Collins was one of five Republican senators who joined Democrats in advancing the War Powers Act resolution from committee to the House, where it passed earlier in the day on a 52-47 vote.
“He’s very angry about the vote,” a source told The Hill. “Very angry. Very hot.”
Senators Susan Collins (left) and Lisa Murkowski (right) both strongly opposed U.S. attempts to buy or invade Greenland on Wednesday. / Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The resolution would prevent Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from using force against Venezuela if the United States captures him. This hampers Trump’s plan to seize Venezuelan oil.
Sources told The Hill the president “basically read the riot act to her” in a “out of the blue” phone call. Collins’ office confirmed to The Hill that the call took place but did not provide any other details about what the president said. The Daily Beast reached out to senators’ representatives and the White House for comment.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with U.S. oil company executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2026. /SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
In addition to Collins, Republican senators Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Josh Hawley and Todd Young also voted to advance the war powers resolution. The move angered Trump. He posted detailed information about five Conservative MPs on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for the senators who just voted for Democrats to try to take away our authority to fight and defend the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be re-elected.”
On January 8, 2026, more than two hundred people participated in the “Free Venezuela” protest in Cologne, Germany, to protest against the US military action to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Collins is up for re-election this year and faces a tight race as Democratic challengers grow in popularity. Her seat will be important for Republicans to maintain control of the Senate after the midterm elections. Trump, however, has been a thorn in the side of the party and has publicly expressed a desire for Collins to step down. This latest call appeared to reaffirm his hostility toward senators.
“The president is clearly not happy with the vote,” Collins told reporters after Trump’s outrage. “I think that means he prefers Governor Mills or someone else with whom he doesn’t have a good relationship. I don’t know, I just won’t comment.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with oil and gas executives during a meeting with Bill Armstrong, founder and CEO of Armstrong Oil and Gas, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2026. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The president has faced pressure and criticism after actions in Venezuela led to Maduro’s arrest. While Maduro was detained awaiting trial, Trump announced plans for the United States to “administer” Venezuela and sell millions of barrels of oil.
Trump met with key oil executives from companies including Chevron and Exxon Mobil on Friday to discuss Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. However, the 79-year-old president quickly digressed, pausing the meeting to wax poetic about the White House ballroom, which is currently under construction.
