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Trump Fumes On GOP Leaders

President-elect Donald Trump is placing pressure on congressional Republicans to tackle the looming national debt crisis, as frustration mounts over the Senate GOP’s failure to raise the debt ceiling before the end of 2022. Trump recently expressed his displeasure with the Senate leadership, especially Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and made it clear that resolving the debt ceiling issue is now Thune’s responsibility.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump told Thune, “John, I don’t know how you’re going to solve this, but you’re going to figure out some way.” The president-elect is unhappy that the debt ceiling hasn’t been addressed before his inauguration, which leaves Republicans with a significant challenge ahead. With Trump preparing to take office on January 20, many GOP leaders, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), acknowledge that the responsibility for dealing with the debt ceiling falls squarely on their shoulders.

The problem is compounded by the fact that Trump’s legislative agenda, which includes key priorities like securing the border, expanding energy production, and extending the tax cuts from 2017, will likely be packaged into a single budget reconciliation bill. However, the debt limit is not expected to be included in this package due to resistance from conservatives who insist that raising the debt ceiling must be accompanied by substantial spending cuts.

In fact, many Republicans, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have vehemently opposed any increase in the debt limit without major fiscal reforms, such as a reduction in government spending. Trump himself echoed these concerns, expressing frustration on social media over Republican dissenters who refused to back debt limit legislation without fiscal cuts.

With a narrow GOP majority in the House and Senate, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senator Thune face a difficult task. There are two primary paths forward: negotiate a deal with Democrats, which would likely involve more spending concessions, or present a standalone debt ceiling increase and force Democrats to vote against it. Both options come with significant political risks, as any compromise with Democrats could alienate conservatives, while standing firm on the debt ceiling could lead to a budgetary showdown.

The larger challenge lies in the timing and substance of any debt limit increase. Congress will need to address the issue by midsummer, but as of now, Republicans are divided on how best to balance fiscal responsibility with the need to keep the government functioning. Many conservatives, such as Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), argue that the only solution is a balanced budget amendment or a plan to reduce federal spending significantly. For example, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has proposed returning government spending to levels seen in 1998, adjusted for inflation, as a way to eliminate the deficit.

With the nation’s debt rapidly increasing, it is clear that any debt ceiling increase will require a delicate balancing act. Republicans must unite around a strategy that both addresses the need to raise the debt limit and aligns with their long-term goals of fiscal restraint and budget reform. But with the Biden administration’s spending spree and an increasing national debt, this will not be an easy task. The stakes are high, and the pressure on Republican leadership is mounting.