President-elect Donald Trump meets privately with Republican senators at the U.S. Capitol late Wednesday (January 8, 2025). The move comes as Republican leaders in both the House and Senate are scrambling to devise a strategy to address his legislative priorities as his party takes control in Washington.
Trump said it “feels great” to be back inside the U.S. Capitol for the first time since leaving office four years ago after his supporters rioted on Jan. 6, 2021. Prior to Thursday’s funeral, he also paid tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter, who lay in state in the Rotunda with his wife Melania.
Trump will be sworn into office on January 20, so Republicans have no time to waste.
“We’re looking at one bill versus two bills, but whatever it is, it doesn’t matter,” Trump said of the conflicting strategies upon arrival. “We’re going to get results.”
Trump’s return to the Capitol comes after a mob of his supporters roamed the hallways of the Capitol besieged four years ago as senators fled to safety in an effort to save the election. , ushering in an era of change in Washington. Lost to President Joe Biden.
During the lengthy meeting, Trump received applause and laughter from Republican senators who stayed late into the night to meet behind closed doors. The session lasted over an hour. He will also meet with Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R.S., and will gather with House Republicans at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, over the weekend.
Political capital is most often at its peak at the start of a new presidential term, especially since President Trump is in his second term and the Constitution prohibits a third term. It is all the more important to act quickly, especially since Republicans have a slim majority in the House and House Speaker Mike Johnson can hardly afford to lose any votes.
Johnson, who greeted Trump at the Capitol, said he sees himself as the Republican quarterback and Trump directing plays as a coach. But Republicans are quickly finding themselves in a dilemma. What happens if the coach changes his mind?
President Trump has vacillated and sent mixed signals to Republicans on Capitol Hill about what the best approach is. Over the weekend, he said he wanted “one big, beautiful bill.” By Monday, he opened his doors to the two again. House Republicans want a single package. Senate Republican leaders have proposed at least two.
At issue are tax cuts, border security, immigration deportation funds and efforts to expand oil and gas energy production, which are priorities for Republicans in the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“You’ve all heard me say over the past year, using a football metaphor, that we’re developing a playbook,” Johnson, R-Louisiana, said Tuesday.
“We have very well-designed plays. Right now, we’re working with our new head coach, President Trump, to go over a series of plays,” he said. “We’re excited to see how all of this plays out.” Budget reconciliation carries high risks but potentially big rewards Republicans are pushing Trump’s priorities forward To do so, it relies on the budget reconciliation process, perhaps the most complex legislative tool at its disposal.
This is a high-risk strategy, but the rewards can also be high.
Reconciliation allows Congress to pass legislation with a majority without the threat of a filibuster in the Senate that could delay or halt action. But it’s also a difficult, rigorous, and time-consuming process that can break down at any time.
Democrats used the same tools during the Obama administration to pass the Affordable Care Act in 2010 without Republican support. Republicans used the system during President Trump’s first term to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 without Democrats.
Using adjustments is hard work. Doing it twice can make it doubly difficult.
Democrats are trying to hold their ground
Pete Aguilar, R-Calif., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said the issue is that President Trump and the Republican Party are cutting back on tax breaks for the wealthy and the social services and other services Americans depend on. He said he was proposing budget cuts that would cut programs.
Republicans are “huddled together behind closed doors” focused on “how do we give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, how do we cut programs that hurt people,” he said. Ta.
Republicans want everyone to be on the same page.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican, said Wednesday’s meeting will help determine “how we can all get on the same page with the House.”
Many Republican senators preferred Thune’s strategy of splitting Trump’s priorities into two bills.
Thune said the bill, which includes provisions on border security, mass deportations, energy development and military funding, could be approved within 30 days of the new administration taking office. A second round of tax cuts will be implemented later.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a member of the Republican leadership that invited the president-elect to meet with senators, said she may support one or two bills.
“But I still think a two-bill strategy is better because I think we can get early wins. It shows the American people and the president that we’re serious. We can show that there is,” she said.
Mr. Trump is scheduled to meet with House Republican Rep. Kevin Hahn (R-Okla.) at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, and several House Republicans heading to Florida for this weekend’s meeting include He said he supports a single bill approach.
“You can’t have everything you want,” he said. “So how do we put together something where everyone can have something?”
Trump returned to Florida on Thursday and hosted Republican governors for dinner at Mar-a-Lago.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo is among the governors heading to South Florida, said the people, who asked not to be identified because details have not been made public. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is also scheduled to attend the dinner, according to a schedule released by the governor’s office earlier this week.
Trump was known to change his mind during his first term, a habit that lawmakers had become accustomed to as the president progressed through his term.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a Trump ally, said the president “just wants to get it all done.” “He supports one bill, but he wants both,” he said. If it takes two, you need two. ”
issued – January 9, 2025 8:16am IST