Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump has already made his presence felt in Washington, which is shocking to absolutely no one who has followed his track record of making waves. Despite being a few steps away from officially taking office, Trump’s hand is firmly on the wheel, steering Capitol Hill politics in a direction that aligns with his principles, leaving Democrats and even some timid Republicans scrambling.
The latest debacle involves a bipartisan spending deal that was thoroughly torpedoed by the president-elect. With his eye focused on draining the swamp, he sent in his Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and other aides to rally the troops against a bloated, 1,500-page spending monstrosity filled with the usual leftist goodies and pay raises for lawmakers. In true Trump fashion, he pushed for a slimmer, more manageable 116-page version, freeing it from the shackles of unnecessary spending and liberal agenda items.
Trump commandeers federal spending mess as Biden fades into White House exithttps://t.co/QSJX4znDwu pic.twitter.com/Fz5YFmsxqu
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 20, 2024
Naturally, Democrats have reacted like cats thrown into a bathtub, upset that their carefully crafted deal, which was mutilated by Trump’s intervention, has been tossed aside. The outrage from the left has been palpable as they watched their carefully laid plans come crashing down, leaving Congress with a single day to rustle up a stopgap measure before a potential government shutdown. If the government does indeed find itself shuttered, it seems evident that Trump will own the narrative, even though he hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet.
While Trump was orchestrating his game plan from sunny Florida, President Biden was busy maintaining a low profile, choosing to attend a memorial service in Delaware. Given that Biden has been more of a background character lately, it’s no wonder the former president is stepping into the role of frontman. Reports reveal that aides have been concealing Biden’s mental decline from the public, and Trump’s assertiveness only draws further contrasts between the two leaders during this tumultuous period.
In a move that had Democrats fuming, Trump also pushed through a provision to suspend the debt limit until midway through his term. This maneuver is aimed at prioritizing his agenda, which includes tax cuts and securing the border, while sending the left into a tailspin of disgruntlement. As the left throws tantrums over being shut out of negotiations, even some Republicans have decided to jump on the grumpy bandwagon, signaling dissent about adding to the deficit.
Among those voicing opposition was Representative Chip Roy, who has become a thorn in Trump’s side for leading the charge against the revised measure. Trump didn’t hesitate to take a jab at him on social media, calling out what he deemed obstructionism all for a puff of self-importance. This saga has only served to underscore the divisions within the Republican Party and raise questions about Trump’s future influence. However, his determination to cut spending and rein in the liberal excess seems to be resonating with a significant portion of conservatives eager for a makeover in Washington. It remains to be seen how quickly Republicans can pull their proverbial heads out of the sand and agree on a solution to avoid a government shutdown, but one thing is for sure: Trump is firmly seated at the head of the table, and he’s not planning on giving up that power anytime soon.
