December 18th 2024.
President-elect Donald Trump made a bold move on Wednesday that dealt a potential death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations. He rejected the proposed measure, citing an abundance of Democratic-friendly provisions and pointing to billionaire ally Elon Musk's fiery criticism of the bill. Trump's joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance sent a clear message: the bill was not going to pass. This statement, coupled with Musk's relentless social media posts denouncing the legislation for its excessive spending, created a whirlwind of chaos and uncertainty on Capitol Hill.
Musk, a prominent figure in the business world, has been selected by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a non-governmental task force dedicated to streamlining federal operations by downsizing the workforce, cutting programs, and reducing regulations. Along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk is expected to bring about significant changes in how the government operates. His growing political influence was evident in the way he mobilized public opinion against the budget bill.
The impact of Musk's social media campaign was felt by lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Barr from Kentucky, who reported receiving numerous calls from concerned constituents. "My phone was ringing off the hook," he said. "The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk." This sentiment was shared by many other lawmakers who were caught off guard by Trump's sudden rejection of the bill.
In their joint statement, Trump and Vance called for a restart of negotiations on the budget bill, stating that anything less would be a betrayal of the country. They also emphasized the need for an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office, stating that it would be better to address the issue now rather than later. Trump's opposition to the bill added a sense of chaos and political brinkmanship, reminiscent of his first term in office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had negotiated the bill, found himself undermined by Trump's decision. With just a few weeks left until his reelection for his post, Johnson faced the possibility of a leadership dispute in the House, given the slim majority of Republicans. The timing of Trump's announcement, during the holiday and year-end celebrations, only added to the confusion and frustration among lawmakers.
The Biden administration also weighed in on the matter, criticizing the possibility of a government shutdown. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, "Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country." Meanwhile, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, expressed concern over the lack of a clear plan for resolving the dispute. "There's got to be a second part of the strategy," he said.
While Norquist has been supportive of Musk's efforts to reduce the size of government, he questioned whether the owner of a space rocket company was the right person to lead a congressional spending debate, stating, "He doesn't know politics like he knows physics." However, others were thrilled with Musk's involvement, with Rep. Dan Bishop from North Carolina stating, "In five years in Congress, I've been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic. It has arrived."
Musk's criticism of the budget bill began as soon as it was released, and he continued to post about it throughout the day on Wednesday. In his posts, he called out any member of the House or Senate who would vote for the bill, stating that they deserve to be voted out in two years. He also went as far as calling the bill "one of the worst ever written." However, some of Musk's claims were proved to be false, such as the idea that the bill included $3 billion for a new football stadium in Washington. In reality, the legislation only transferred ownership of the land from the federal government to the city for future development.
Despite the misinformation, Musk appeared emboldened by the experience, stating, "The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America." On the other hand, Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries held Republicans accountable for the fallout, stating, "You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow." Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri also contributed to this report.
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