Under current rules, it’s pretty difficult for a party to push through controversial bills with a small majority in the Senate. The vast majority of bills and Supreme Court appointments still require 60 votes to beat a filibuster.

All other presidential appointments and “budget reconciliation” bills require at least 50/51 votes, considering the VP tie breaker.

It will only take 2 or 3 Republican defectors to kill a controversial bill or appointment, depending on the Louisiana Senate runoff election on Saturday.

tRump made enemies in the Senate. 11 Republican senators refused to support him during the campaign and some that did back him, voiced serious doubts about his fitness for POTUS.