Trump Team Prepares To Sink What?
Allies of President-elect Donald Trump have strongly criticized a massive government funding deal as lawmakers face a crucial deadline at the end of the week. With House GOP leaders struggling to secure enough votes, Trump’s supporters are pushing back, urging conservatives to oppose the 1,500-page bill and warning of political consequences for those who support it.
While Trump himself has not yet weighed in on the bill, some of his most prominent allies, including tech mogul Elon Musk and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, have voiced their strong objections. Musk, a close Trump ally who leads a commission focused on reducing government spending, took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the legislation. “Any lawmaker of the House or Senate who supports this outrageous spending bill should be voted out next election!” Musk wrote. He followed up with multiple posts criticizing the bill’s wasteful provisions, calling it a “huge piece of pork” and urging Republicans to reject it outright.
Ramaswamy, who co-leads Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), also slammed the bill. He emphasized the need for a smaller, more efficient government and said the bill’s passage would betray those principles. “This is an early test. The bill should fail,” Ramaswamy posted, reflecting the frustrations of many conservative voters who feel Washington continues to waste taxpayer dollars.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House strategist, also weighed in. On his “War Room” podcast, Bannon suggested Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) could lose his leadership position if he backs the deal, calling for a stronger stance against the swamp of Washington. “He’s got to go,” Bannon said. “President Trump supports him until he doesn’t.”
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., shared his own concerns over a provision in the bill that would reportedly prevent the disclosure of certain House data. Trump Jr. criticized the measure, asking whether Congress would protect itself from scrutiny. “The American people didn’t vote for this,” he wrote. “They voted for transparency.”
The bill, which extends government funding through March 14, includes provisions for disaster assistance, healthcare reforms, and even a potential return of the Washington Commanders to D.C. The timing of the bill is crucial, as Republicans are struggling to balance their commitment to fiscal responsibility with the pressures of maintaining government operations.
Speaker Johnson, who has faced intense scrutiny over the bill, admitted that he is in a difficult position. He told reporters that he had spoken with Musk about the deal and acknowledged the challenges in bringing his conference together. Despite these tensions, GOP leaders are hoping to push the funding agreement through, but the loud objections from Trump’s allies may make it an uphill battle.
