Trump Meets GOP Lawmakers as Republicans Clash Over Tax, Spending Cuts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump met with congressional Republicans on Thursday as GOP lawmakers struggle to agree on his proposed tax cuts, spending reductions, and border security funding. While House Speaker Mike Johnson pushes for a unified approach, Senate Republicans, led by Lindsey Graham, favor a two-step process that prioritizes border security first before tackling broader tax and spending cuts. With hardline conservatives demanding deeper cuts, GOP divisions threaten to derail progress on what was expected to be a top priority in Trump’s second term.
Trump, Congressional Republicans Clash Over Tax and Spending Cuts: Quick Look
- Trump met with GOP lawmakers at the White House to discuss budget negotiations.
- House and Senate Republicans are divided over how to structure Trump’s tax and spending cuts.
- Speaker Mike Johnson wants a unified approach, but his timeline is slipping.
- Senate GOP leaders, led by John Thune and Lindsey Graham, propose a two-step plan:
- Step 1: A $300 billion bill focused on border security, ICE hiring, and defense spending, paid for by cutting green energy programs.
- Step 2: A larger tax cut and spending reduction package later in the year.
- Hardline conservatives demand deeper cuts, with the House Freedom Caucus pushing for $2 trillion in reductions.
- Public opposition is mounting, with congressional offices flooded with calls against Trump’s cost-cutting measures.
- Trump remains noncommittal on details, focusing instead on final results.
Trump Meets GOP Lawmakers as Republicans Clash Over Tax, Spending Cuts
Trump Meets With GOP Lawmakers as Budget Debate Stalls
GOP Divided on Trump’s Economic Vision
President Donald Trump met with congressional Republicans on Thursday in a closed-door session at the White House, hoping to unite his party behind a sweeping tax and spending plan.
However, deep divisions remain, with House and Senate Republicans at odds over how to move forward. While Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) insists his party will remain united, internal GOP debates threaten to derail progress.
- Trump has called for aggressive spending cuts and tax breaks, but he has not committed to a specific plan.
- Time is slipping away, and Republicans risk losing momentum on their top legislative priority.
Senate Republicans Push for Two-Step Approach
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have proposed a two-step approach to avoid further delays:
- First bill: A $300 billion package focusing on border security, ICE hiring, and defense spending, paid for by rolling back Biden-era green energy programs.
- Second bill: A larger tax cut and spending reduction package before the year’s end.
Graham called the border security bill “the most transformational” in U.S. history, saying it would:
- Finish construction of Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall.
- Hire additional ICE agents to deport criminal undocumented immigrants.
- Expand detention centers to prevent releases of high-risk individuals.
House Freedom Caucus Demands Bigger Cuts
While Senate Republicans focus on border security first, hardline House conservatives want deeper spending cuts upfront.
- The House Freedom Caucus is demanding $2 trillion in cuts, double the $1 trillion in savings that House leaders are proposing.
- Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) slammed the negotiations, arguing that a mere $100 billion in annual cuts isn’t enough when federal spending exceeds $7 trillion per year.
- House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) acknowledged that a $2.5 trillion reduction was a “stretch goal”, highlighting the difficulty in achieving conservative demands.
GOP Faces Internal Standoff as Deadline Approaches
With Speaker Johnson struggling to keep Republicans unified, Senate leaders may take control of the process.
- Johnson’s plan is falling behind schedule, as the House was supposed to begin budget hearings this week.
- If Republicans can’t agree soon, Democrats could seize the opportunity to push their own budget priorities.
“We need to get this done,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, emphasizing the urgency of securing funding for Trump’s border security initiatives.
Public Backlash and Growing Protests
Meanwhile, public opposition is mounting, as congressional offices are inundated with calls protesting Trump’s budget cuts.
- Programs at risk include social services, public health funding, and federal education grants.
- Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives—aimed at downsizing federal agencies—are sparking outrage among government employees and unions.
- Trump remains focused on the end result, stating that he cares more about passing cuts than the legislative process itself.
What’s Next?
- Senate Budget Committee hearings begin next week to advance Graham’s border security plan.
- House Republicans must decide whether to support the two-step strategy or push for a single, massive tax and spending bill.
- Trump is expected to continue meeting with GOP leaders to finalize the details of his budget agenda.
The clock is ticking, and Republicans must resolve their differences soon if they hope to deliver on Trump’s economic promises before the 2026 elections.
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