Trump Reevaluates Support for Speaker Johnson After Funding Fiasco

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly rethinking his support for House Speaker Mike Johnson following a turbulent government funding negotiation that exposed fractures within the Republican Party. Sources close to Trump suggest he is dissatisfied with Johnson’s handling of the situation and is questioning his ability to lead the slim GOP House majority effectively.

The catalyst for Trump’s frustration is Johnson’s failure to secure a debt ceiling hike within the recently passed funding deal, according to a report by Politico’s Rachael Bade. This omission could create significant hurdles for Trump’s legislative agenda in 2024, as Senate Democrats are likely to use the unresolved debt ceiling issue as a bargaining chip to obstruct Republican priorities.

The breakdown in trust reportedly began when Johnson assured Trump that he had the votes to pass a funding plan that included the debt ceiling increase. Bolstered by this assurance, Trump publicly endorsed the measure and exerted pressure on House Republicans to back the proposal.

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However, the plan faltered in the House, with 38 Republican lawmakers opposing it. The failure left Trump’s team blindsided and angry. “You can’t bring the president a deal that you say you have the votes for if you don’t have the votes,” a Trump insider told Bade.

Trump’s disappointment deepened when Johnson chose not to pursue a holiday-season government shutdown, a strategy that both Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance had floated as a means of forcing Democrats to agree to a debt ceiling increase. Johnson’s refusal to adopt this hardline tactic has further strained his relationship with Trump and his allies.

In the end, the House passed a stopgap spending bill Friday night to avert a government shutdown. The measure, which received overwhelming Democratic support (196 votes) and saw 34 Republicans vote against it, was subsequently passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Saturday morning.

The legislation’s passage has done little to quell conservative criticism. Reports revealed that Johnson had negotiated the 1,547-page continuing resolution behind closed doors, sparking outrage among Republicans who viewed the process as opaque and exclusionary.

The bill’s contents also drew ire. It included pork-barrel projects favoring Democrats, pay raises for members of Congress, and expanded health insurance benefits for lawmakers. Most controversially, it featured a provision that appeared to shield House offices from legal scrutiny by granting them exclusive control over their records. Critics argued this undermined transparency and accountability.

Trump insiders who spoke to Bade did not mince words in their assessment of Johnson’s performance. “The president is upset — he wanted the debt ceiling dealt with,” one confidant said.

Others were even more critical. “In the past couple weeks, we’ve questioned whether [Johnson has] been an honest broker,” one insider remarked. Another bluntly stated, “I don’t see how Johnson survives.”

Despite this harsh criticism, Trump is not expected to call for Johnson’s removal directly. Instead, he is likely to remain on the sidelines as Johnson faces growing scrutiny from his caucus.

Johnson’s leadership has faced challenges since he ascended to the speakership, but the funding debacle has amplified concerns about his ability to navigate the complexities of a divided Congress. While his defenders argue that he inherited a fractured Republican caucus, critics contend that his secretive negotiations and failure to deliver on the debt ceiling have eroded his credibility.

The episode has also highlighted the broader challenges facing Republicans as they prepare for the 2024 election season. With a narrow House majority and a contentious presidential race ahead, any misstep could jeopardize their ability to govern effectively and advance their agenda.

Trump’s dissatisfaction with Johnson signals potential turbulence for Republican unity heading into the pivotal 2024 election year. The former president’s re-election campaign will require strong party cohesion, but internal divisions like those revealed in the funding crisis could undermine those efforts.

The situation poses a critical test for Johnson. Can he regain the confidence of his party and its de facto leader, Trump? Or will the fractures exposed in this funding debacle mark the beginning of the end for his speakership?

As Republicans face the dual pressures of governing and campaigning, the stakes have never been higher. Whether Johnson can rise to the occasion or becomes another casualty of Washington’s political infighting remains to be seen. For now, the future of his leadership hangs in the balance.

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