Kevin Cramer
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican
  • Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, is chafing at Trump's power over his colleagues.
  • Cramer said senators need to make sure their opinions are their own.
  • Trump's influence over congressional Republicans is only growing as he nears a third straight GOP presidential nomination.

Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota is frustrated that so many of his GOP colleagues appear to defer their views on major issues to former President Donald Trump.

"I just think it's unfortunate that we can't, as individual United States senators, take the time and the effort and intellectual honesty to study something on your own and make a decision," Cramer told Politico. "Donald Trump has an opinion too. That's great, but ours should be our opinion."