What’s New
On Friday 170 House Republicans joined Democrats to approve an emergency funding bill just hours before a partial government shutdown was due to go into effect, despite President-elect Donald Trump‘s threat to oust any rebels.
In a post on his Truth Social website before the vote the incoming president said the move would simply “bring the mess of the Debt Limit into the Trump Administration” and said any Republicans that support it “should, and will, be Primaried.” Trump had called for the federal debt ceiling to be removed or extended to 2029, neither of which featured in Friday’s legislation.
Newsweek contacted Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential transition team for comment via email on Saturday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Friday’s continuing resolution to temporarily extend government spending prevented an imminent government shutdown, which had been due to begin on Saturday. The bill passed the House by 366 votes against 34, and the Senate with 85 votes versus 11.
The recent spat over government funding has seen a significant number of House Republicans defy the incoming president, with 38 Republican rebels on Thursday joining Democrats to vote down a Trump backed funding plan which would also have suspended the debt ceiling.
What To Know
In a Truth Social post ahead of Friday’s vote Trump said: “If Republicans try to pass a clean Continuing Resolution without all of the Democrat ‘bells and whistles’ that will be so destructive to our Country, all it will do, after January 20th, is bring the mess of the Debt Limit into the Trump Administration, rather than allowing it to take place in the Biden Administration.
“Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried. Everything should be done, and fully negotiated, before my taking Office on January 20, 2025.”
A further increase to the debt ceiling, which currently stands at $31.4 trillion, may be necessary if Trump is to implement the tax cuts he pledged during the 2024 presidential election campaign, but is being fiercely resisted by fiscal conservatives in the House.
On Thursday Trump singled out GOP House Representative Chip Roy from Texas and called for him to face a primary challenge.
Posting on Truth Social he said: “The very unpopular ‘Congressman’ from Texas, Chip Roy, is getting in the way, as usual, of having yet another Great Republican Victory—All for the sake of some cheap publicity for himself. Republican obstructionists have to be done away with.”
Trump added that he hopes “some talented challengers are getting ready in the Great State of Texas to go after Chip in the Primary. He won’t have a chance!”
Responding on X Roy, a House Freedom Caucus member, said: “My position is simple—I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) without significant & real spending cuts attached to it. I’ve been negotiating to that end. No apologies.”
What People Are Saying
Former GOP vice-president Mike Pence spoke out in defense of Roy on X posting: “Congressman Chip Roy is one of the most principled conservatives in Washington D.C. and people across this country are grateful for his stand against runaway federal spending. We just can’t keep piling trillions in debt on our children and grandchildren.”
Ron Filipkowski, editor of self-styled ‘pro-democracy’ media outlet Meidas Touch, wrote: “Why would Trump want to eliminate the debt ceiling during his entire presidency when he promised to cut the total budget by 33% and balance the budget?”
David Axelrod, formerly chief strategist to Barack Obama‘s presidential campaigns, wrote: “On the debt ceiling, it’s worth noting that one-quarter of the federal debt, from the founding of the Republic to 2021, was accumulated during the first administration of Donald J. Trump.”
What Happens Next
Friday’s continuing resolution pushes the dispute about raising the debt ceiling into 2025 and Trump’s presidency, but doesn’t resolve it.
Trump’s demand to raise the debt ceiling will likely continue to face a challenge from Republicans who are hoping the national debt will be lowered, with what they regard as excess spending slashed with help from the newly created advisory Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
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