In Washington, after days of drama and demands, Donald Trump ended up with little to show for his efforts when lawmakers passed a budget deal early Saturday, narrowly avoiding a pre-Christmas government shutdown.
Trump had pushed hard to cut spending, but his big goal — raising the debt limit — didn’t happen. Despite his strong election victory and frequent threats, many Republicans still seemed willing to defy him.
This situation also showed that Trump is better at stirring up chaos than actually making deals. It’s clear that his second term will likely bring more of the same: infighting, chaos, and political showdowns.
“Stay tuned. Buckle up,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., hinting at what’s to come.
Trump has a long list of goals for the next few years — extending tax cuts, reducing the size of government, raising tariffs on imports, and cracking down on illegal immigration. All of these will need approval from Congress.
For many of Trump’s supporters, disruption is the end goal. About 37% of those who voted for him want “complete and total upheaval,” while 56% are hoping for “substantial change.”
But it’s clear that pushing his agenda could be tough, especially with Republicans holding just narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. Some lawmakers are already feeling the strain of trying to get everything together.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., called the budget debate a “valuable lesson” in how to get things done — or not done, as it may be.
How Trump’s Demands Fell Short
The trouble began when lawmakers revealed a budget bill to keep the government running until March. But it wasn’t Trump who first took aim at the bill — it was Elon Musk, Trump’s close ally and the world’s richest man, who began criticizing the legislation on social media for spending too much.
Eventually, Trump jumped in, demanding Republicans ditch their bipartisan deal with Democrats and increase the debt limit — the amount of money the government can borrow. His goal was to resolve this issue before he officially took office. But his demands kept changing. First, he wanted to eliminate the debt limit altogether. Then he pushed for a temporary suspension until 2027 or even 2029.
Trump threatened a government shutdown if he didn’t get his way, warning that if it happened, President Biden would take the blame. He also threatened primary challenges for Republicans who didn’t go along with him.
But in the end, 38 Republicans voted against Trump’s wishes, leaving the debt ceiling increase out of the final bill. Despite his pressure, lawmakers passed the deal without the change Trump wanted.
Musk and other Trump supporters tried to spin the outcome as a win, pointing out that the final bill was smaller and didn’t include things like pay raises for Congress members. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk even said Trump was already “running Congress” before taking office.
But Trump didn’t seem thrilled. After several days of social media posts, he went silent on Friday and chose to spend the day golfing instead.
More Clashes Ahead
This budget showdown was a lot like what happened during Trump’s first term, when a battle over government funding led to a 35-day government shutdown — the longest in history — over his demand for money for a border wall. In the end, he had to agree to a deal without getting what he wanted.
And that’s not stopping him now. Trump is pushing his party to get behind his controversial Cabinet picks, like anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary, and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.
Next year’s spending debates will test Trump’s influence again. Many conservatives want to cut federal spending, but some Republicans worry that drastic cuts could hurt them with voters who rely on federal programs.
If Trump pushes through more tax cuts as promised, concerns about the federal deficit will only grow. He’s even talked about eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime pay, while reducing the corporate tax rate for companies that produce in the U.S.
Trump has said he’ll make up for the lost revenue with higher tariffs on imports, though economists warn this could lead to higher prices for consumers.
Some Republicans are still skeptical about Trump’s priorities, especially when it comes to spending. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, pointed out that reducing spending has never been a big part of Trump’s campaign, but it’s a major priority for House Republicans.
Even as the debate over the budget rages on, the divide between Trump and some Republicans remains. Some lawmakers criticized the House leadership for not getting Trump’s approval for the original deal. Democrats, meanwhile, said Trump was playing second fiddle to Musk.
While Trump stayed quiet, Biden signed the budget deal into law. “This agreement represents a compromise,” Biden said. “Neither side got everything it wanted, but it ensures the government can keep running.”
As things unfold, it’s clear that the political drama is far from over. Keep watching, because it’s likely to get even more intense.
