President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance sharply criticized a government funding deal on Wednesday, which had been negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to prevent a government shutdown and extend federal operations until March 14, as reported by CNN. Their criticisms cast doubt on the deal’s viability as the shutdown deadline grew nearer.
The pair condemned the bill for including what they considered to be Democratic priorities, and raised concerns about the upcoming reinstatement of the U.S. debt ceiling in the new year. “Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025,” Trump and Vance stated. “The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country.”
Throughout Wednesday, Trump reportedly voiced his opposition to the spending agreement in private, according to several sources who spoke with CNN. His disapproval led to a rush among GOP lawmakers to reconsider their support for Johnson’s proposal, as many Republicans viewed Trump’s stance as a critical blow to the funding plan.
This created uncertainty around whether Johnson would continue to have Trump’s support as he prepares for his upcoming election as speaker. Johnson unveiled the details of his funding plan on Tuesday evening, but it faced immediate backlash from conservatives, who felt it was too favorable to Democratic policies. Passing the bill would likely require votes from Democrats in both the House and Senate.
In response, Trump and Vance issued a late statement, urging Republicans to take a more aggressive stance on spending and to tie demands about the debt ceiling to the bill intended to keep the government running. “Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF,” Trump and Vance wrote, according to CNN.
They continued, “Let’s have this debate now,” in reference to the debt ceiling. “And we should pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want.”
This late intervention into the negotiations, after a bipartisan agreement had already been established, significantly increased the likelihood of a government shutdown. Leading Democrats quickly expressed their reluctance to back Trump’s proposal for a “streamlined” spending bill, which would exclude billions of dollars in previously agreed-upon policies, according to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
{Matzav.com}
