President-elect Donald Trump has publicly opposed a government funding bill championed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, aligning himself with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in an unexpected coalition. The move has intensified debate within the Republican Party and raised the stakes for avoiding a potential government shutdown.
Key Points of Opposition
Trump’s resistance to the GOP-backed continuing resolution (CR) was confirmed by a source familiar with his position, who noted that the president-elect had privately expressed strong objections. Trump later made his stance public, stating during a Fox News appearance that he is “totally against” the bill.
In a joint statement issued alongside Vice President-elect and Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, Trump criticized the proposal, arguing that it would provide unnecessary concessions to Democrats. “The only way forward is a temporary funding bill WITHOUT Democrat giveaways combined with an increase in the debt ceiling,” the statement read. They added that anything less would be “a betrayal of our country.”
Musk’s Role in the Opposition
Elon Musk, who has been tapped by Trump to co-lead an advisory group focused on reducing government waste, has been vocal in his criticism of the 1,547-page bill. Musk has referred to the legislation as “laden with wasteful pork-barrel spending” and has advocated for significant fiscal restraint.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk argued that a government shutdown would be preferable to passing the current version of the bill. “Shutting down the government (which doesn’t actually shut down critical functions btw) is infinitely better than passing a horrible bill,” Musk wrote. He also urged Congress to avoid passing any major legislation until Trump takes office on January 20, 2025.
Growing Republican Division
Trump and Musk’s opposition has emboldened a faction of Republican lawmakers who share concerns about the bill’s spending provisions. Speaker Johnson, who has been leading the effort to pass the CR, acknowledged the growing dissent within his party.
Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Johnson revealed that he had been in contact with Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to discuss the bill. While Johnson expressed shared frustrations over federal spending, he stressed the importance of passing the CR to prevent a shutdown and pave the way for Trump’s future agenda.
The short-term bill, unveiled just days before a Friday funding deadline, aims to keep the government open until mid-March 2025. It includes over $100 billion in disaster-relief funding for states recently impacted by hurricanes, including Florida and North Carolina.
Challenges for Speaker Johnson
The internal GOP rebellion over the CR could have long-term implications for Speaker Johnson’s leadership. Johnson, who became Speaker in October 2023 following Kevin McCarthy’s ouster, faces re-election as Speaker of the House on January 3, 2025. With the Republican Party holding an even slimmer majority in the next Congress, Johnson’s future as Speaker remains uncertain.
Several prominent Republicans, including Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, have declined to confirm their support for Johnson’s re-election bid.
Potential Shutdown Looms
If no funding legislation is passed by Friday night, the federal government will begin a partial shutdown. This could include furloughs for non-essential employees and disruptions to various government services. However, Musk and Trump appear unconcerned about the potential fallout, viewing a shutdown as a preferable alternative to passing what they see as a flawed bill.
Broader Implications
Trump’s opposition to the GOP-backed bill underscores his continued influence over the Republican Party, even as he prepares to assume office in January. His alignment with Musk, a powerful figure in both business and politics, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over government funding and spending priorities.
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