Trump issued his first veto of his term, rejecting two bipartisan natural resources bills

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump issued his first veto of his second term Tuesday, rejecting two low-profile bipartisan bills, a move that had the effect of punishing supporters who opposed the president’s positions on other issues.

Trump vetoed drinking water pipeline legislation introduced by 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 in Florida more control over some of its tribal lands. The tribe was among the groups that filed a lawsuit against the administration over the Everglades immigrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Both bills had bipartisan support and were not controversial until the White House announced Trump’s veto on Tuesday night.

Trump appeared to acknowledge the tribe’s opposition to the detention facility in a letter to Congress explaining his veto. “The Miccosukee Tribe has actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people voted decisively on when I was elected,” Trump wrote.

Trump did not mention Boebert’s veto of her legislation, but he did raise concerns about the cost of the water pipeline at the heart of that bill.

Boebert, one of four House Republicans who sided with House Democrats early on to force the release of the Epstein files, shared a statement on social media suggesting the veto may have been “political retaliation.”

“I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retaliation for exposing corruption and demanding accountability,” she said in her statement. “Americans deserve leadership that puts people over politics.” “It’s not over yet,” Boebert added in another post.

The Florida legislation was sponsored by Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who supported Trump. Jimenez and the Miccosukee Tribe were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

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Asked whether the veto amounted to punishment, the White House did not answer, pointing instead to Trump’s statements explaining the veto.

Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate, but it is unclear whether there is enough support in the Republican-controlled chambers to do so, especially heading into a midterm election year when many of them will be on the ballot and many GOP members will be counting on Trump’s support.

Boebert’s legislation, “End the Arkansas Valley Canal Act,” aims to improve access to clean drinking water in eastern Colorado.

While the congresswoman has long been a staunch supporter of Trump, she has found herself at odds with the president over her support this year for legislation requiring the Justice Department to release files related to Epstein.

Trump resisted the proposal before backing down in the face of growing Republican support for releasing the files. Members of his administration even met with Boebert in the White House Situation Room to discuss the matter, though she did not change her mind.

Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, who co-sponsored the legislation, said he was “deeply disappointed” by Trump’s veto.

“This was a unanimous, bipartisan bill approved by Congress to support the long-term federal commitment to southeastern Colorado,” Hurd said in a statement.

He said the legislation did not authorize any new construction spending or expand the federal government’s original commitment to the pipeline project, but it did modify the terms of paying for its costs.

Kennard reported from Chapin, South Carolina.