Trump undercuts GOP leader and 'throws a curveball' into House Republicans' plans: report
Donald Trump is already undercutting Republican U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), the Senate majority leader, according to a new report.
The break involves planning for priorities when it comes to passing legislation in Trump's upcoming term. Thune has been pitching fellow lawmakers on a plan that involves two separate bills, one for border and energy, and one for tax cuts.
But Trump told House Speaker Mike Johnson he wants one "beautiful bill," according to Politico's reporting.
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"Trump’s decision is a break from Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s pitch for a two-bill strategy that would have seen Republicans pass a border and energy bill first followed by a tax bill. Johnson had also previously indicated there would be two bills — though that was viewed as more of a deference to Trump’s perceived preference and a way to notch quick wins for his agenda," according to the weekend report. "Thune stopped by the House GOP retreat on Saturday, a person familiar confirmed to POLITICO."
The report goes on to say that Trump's decision "also throws a curveball into the House-leadership-struck agreement to raise the debt ceiling under reconciliation."
"House GOP leadership told members as part of last year’s government funding negotiations that they would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion as part of the first reconciliation package and cut $2.5 trillion in spending as part of the reconciliation process," according to the report. "But GOP leaders have yet to hammer out a plan across both chambers and coordinate with Trump, according to three people familiar with the ongoing conversations. They are discussing several options, including to deal with the debt ceiling as part of reconciliation, as Republicans had previously discussed."