As Donald Trump’s attacks on a federal judge settled over Capitol Hill like a dark cloud on Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Sessions dialed up Trump’s campaign to relay mounting alarm among elected Republicans about the presumptive nominee’s assaults on a jurist because of his Mexican roots.

Trump tried to calm the waters a few hours later, issuing a statement that blamed the media and delivering a speech that skirted the issue altogether. But the non-apology walkback failed to placate many elected Republicans, who said in interviews Wednesday that the GOP standard-bearer has a ways to go to show the restraint and discipline it will take to win the presidency and keep Republicans from a down-ballot disaster in November.


The anti-Trump movement is now growing rather than shrinking: At least eight GOP senators either won’t vote for Trump or have declined to back him publicly. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Rep. Bill Flores of Texas, who chairs the conservative Republican Study Committee, both said Wednesday they weren’t ready to get on board, either.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H) wanted a retraction from Trump, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was looking for an apology. Instead, Trump continued to question whether District Judge Gonzalo Curiel could give him a fair hearing in a Trump University fraud lawsuit, then declared the matter settled and that he wouldn’t discuss it anymore.

That’s not how even his supporters on Capitol Hill view things.

“He’s got a long way to go to clean that up,” said Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). “The American people need to hear more from him.” Trump’s comments “were toxic and they were inappropriate and they were offensive and they were wrong. His walking it back was to some extent a sign of leadership, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

“He’s still got some work to do to establish confidence in people that would be inclined to support him,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Republicans recognize that all politicians make gaffes. But Trump’s rhetoric has repeatedly blindsided them. Whether it’s attacking Sen. John McCain for getting captured in Vietnam, mocking a reporter with a disability or bashing Republican elected officials, Trump keeps leaving Republicans holding their breath, wondering what outrageous thing they’ll have to respond to next.

His softened approach in his speech Tuesday night was just the latest time that some Republicans said they heard Trump turning a corner. But it’s hard to trust, given the track record.

“If you look at the people he’s hired and worked with, it shows he’s not a racist. But you know those remarks were completely inappropriate,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). “You’re going to make some mistakes from time to time. I speak with some authority: I’ve made some really dumb-ass mistakes.”

“To call him a racist is pushing it too far, and some of the media are taking advantage of stupidity, there,” Hatch added. “I wish he hadn’t said it.”

Sessions (R-Ala.), the first senator to endorse Trump, said he believed Trump headquarters got the message on Tuesday.

“I shared some thoughts, and I like it that he’s focusing on the issues” now, Sessions said. “He’s treating this seriously. He took seriously the concerns.”

Sessions was not alone in sensing a shift from Trump. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he believes Trump is doing his best to walk back his remarks. The senator said he’s willing to reserve judgment until he sees how Trump acts “going forward.”

“How many times can you guys ask the same question?” Burr said. “What he said is he didn’t intend that to be a racist remark. You have to take him at his word that he didn’t intend to do it.”

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said: “It’s probably difficult for him because he’s got quite an ego, but I think he’s listening to people now and he’s recognizing that he really made on a mistake on that thing.”

But Trump’s defenders were once again outnumbered by critics, or lawmakers intent on steering altogether clear of him.

“We’re in a Trump-free zone today. I’m working on a lot of other stuff,” said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has endorsed Trump. Asked about Trump’s speech and latest statements about Curiel, Rubio replied: “I didn’t see it, guys. I’m working on other things. I know that’s your life, but it’s not mine anymore.”

Added Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who is facing a tough reelection campaign: “I didn’t see it, no. He’s going to figure out what he’s going to do. I’m focused on my own campaign.”

Toomey is among a surprisingly large number of GOP senators who are not currently backing Trump. The group includes deal makers like Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Collins, and hard-line conservatives like Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah. Sen. Mark Kirk, an underdog for reelection in left-leaning Illinois, rescinded his endorsement of Trump on Tuesday.

Other Republican senators in tough races weren’t ready to join Kirk, however. An aide to Ayotte said that, in the senator’s view, what Trump said Tuesday “isn’t a retraction,” but would not go further. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) also stressed that he wanted to see Trump retract his Curiel remarks but said he will “concentrate on areas of agreement” with the nominee-in-waiting.

Kirk wouldn’t say whether he expects more Republicans to join him, but he’s not alone. GOP Reps. Bob Dold of Illinois and Carlos Curbelo of Florida are among those who said they won’t vote for Trump.

“I hope it’s moving Trump. I hope he’s taking note,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has also said he can’t back Trump. “Unless he changes his tone and some of his positions, it’s over.”

