Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama missed a key vote in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, leaving Republicans “furious,” because he was traveling to an event at former President Donald Trump’s summer retreat in New Jersey.

Tuberville missed a vote calling to end debate on President Joe Biden’s nomination of Jared Bernstein as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA).

Debate ended with a 50-49 vote while Tuberville’s vote would likely have left the vote tied at 50 and requiring Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the deciding vote that would likely have ended the debate.

All Senate Republicans are expected to oppose Bernstein’s nomination.

Andrew Desiderio, senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl News, posted this message on Twitter:

“Republican leadership was counting on full attendance today to force VP Harris to come break the tie on Jared Bernstein. But Sen. Tuberville missed the cloture vote just now, so Republicans are furious …

“Tuberville is headed to Bedminster for Trump’s event tonight.”

Senate Periodicals, the Twitter account for the Senate Periodical Press Gallery, also noted that Tuberville missed the cloture vote as well as Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for Politico.

Tuberville said in a Twitter message Tuesday afternoon that he “will be standing right next to President Trump tonight in total support” at the New Jersey event.

Tuberville spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Trump is expected to address supporters Tuesday night at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey following his arraignment earlier in the day in Miami on federal charges relating to retention of classified documents.

Alabama’s junior senator, Katie Britt, released a statement Monday night announcing her opposition to Bernstein’s appointment.

“Make no mistake, Jared Bernstein has been one of the primary architects of the Biden Administration’s disastrous economic policies,” Britt said in the statement.

“The last thing that he deserves is a promotion. While hardworking Americans are struggling to make ends meet amid persistent inflation, Dr. Bernstein has pledged to double down on the same reckless tax-and-spend policies that have caused crushing pain around kitchen tables nationwide. The Senate should overwhelmingly reject this nomination and send a message to the White House that it’s past time to restore American energy dominance, slash burdensome regulations, lower taxes, and onshore good-paying jobs.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, also spoke against Bernstein’s nomination on Tuesday.

“The CEA was designed to produce objective, empirical economic analysis. With the rarest of exceptions, it’s been led by a seasoned economist with a PhD in the field. That streak would end with Mr. Bernstein,” McConnell said on the Senate floor, according to The Hill.

“The nominee the Senate will consider this week can more accurately claim expertise in partisan warfare than economics,” McConnell added.