SENATE PASSES VETO-PROOF DEFENSE BILL, 84-13, TO SHAME TRUMP

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a sweeping defense bill with a veto-proof majority, a major rebuke to President Donald Trump who has urged Republican opposition and threatened to veto the legislation. The vote was 84 to 13.

Trump's position on the bill has sharply divided GOP lawmakers, forcing them to choose between loyalty to the President and legislation that sets defense policy for the country. In the end, however, the President's opposition was not enough to stall passage of the legislation through Congress. The Senate vote comes after the House of Representatives also passed the bill with a veto-proof majority earlier this week. Now it will be up to Trump to decide how to respond, Manu Raju and Clare Foran reported for CNN.

The $740 billion bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes pay raises for America's soldiers, modernizations for equipment and provisions to require more scrutiny before troops are withdrawn from Germany or Afghanistan, but that hasn't stopped Trump's threats against it.

Trump has threatened to veto the bill because it doesn't include a repeal of Section 230, a law that shields internet companies from being liable for what is posted on their websites by them or third parties, an issue that is of no concern for a defense bill. The bill also includes provisions to limit how much money Trump can move around for his border wall and another that would require the military to rename bases that were named after figures from the Confederacy.

The President urged House Republicans to oppose the bill just hours ahead of the vote in that chamber earlier this week, saying, "I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO." Trump's threat to veto the annual defense bill drew swift and sharp bipartisan pushback from lawmakers who have argued that Trump is using leverage over the troops to settle personal scores. Trump has received vocal support from a handful of allies like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.