Blindsided congressional Republicans worried Thursday about whether President Trump's surprise fiscal deal with the Democrats would mean more shocks are ahead on issues like tax reform.
"We wondered if he'd back us on Obamacare repeal. He didn't do much selling to the public. Then a few days after the victory part at the White House he called it ‘mean.' Many wonder the same thing on tax reform," said one House Republican, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to antagonize Trump.
Though disappointed with the contours of Trump's accord with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., linking a three-month hike in the debt ceiling to hurricane relief, what really rankled Republicans was how the president sprang it on them without warning.
Trump made GOP leaders look foolish and left many in the rank-and-file wondering how they'd negotiate tax reform and other thorny legislation with an administration that couldn't be trusted to keep its word. Prior to Trump's deal with the Democrats, Republicans were publicly pressing for the 18-month debt limit extension they and the White House had agreed to.
Congressional Republicans tried to put a good face on Trump's change of heart, calling it a good moment for bipartisanship and functional government. Privately, they're questioning his leadership. In the Senate, 17 Republicans voted against the deal; it passed, but with more Democratic than Republican votes, typical of fiscal agreements GOP leaders struck with former President Barack Obama.
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01.20.2025