Trump blindsides Senate Republicans by endorsing rival House budget plan
Donald Trump has derailed Senate Republicans' budget strategy by endorsing a competing House option, leaving GOP leaders scrambling to save their agenda just weeks ahead of a potential government shutdown.
The president's surprise intervention came just hours after Senate Republicans moved to advance their own two-track proposal, as he declared instead that he wants 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL' through the House's reconciliation process.
'Unlike the Lindsey Graham version of the very important Legislation currently being discussed, the House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda,' Trump posted on Truth Social.
Senate majority leader John Thune admitted being blindsided. 'As they say, did not see that one coming,' he told reporters after an emergency leadership meeting on Wednesday.'
The announcement forces Senate Republicans to reconsider their carefully planned schedule of votes this week on a slimmer package that was meant to cover defense, border security and energy provisions.
The timing is already tight, as Congress is barreling down a 14 March deadline to pass the bill that would avoid a shutdown forcing hundreds of thousands of federal employees to go without pay. Although Republicans control both chambers, the majorities are so thin they will need Democratic votes to pass any funding measure.
In the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats, at least 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster. House Speaker Mike Johnson, working with a slim 218-215 majority, faces similar math problems and internal drama.
Johnson immediately claimed victory over Trump's endorsement of the House plan, saying on X that House Republicans are 'working to deliver President Trump's FULL agenda – not just a small part of it'.
But his proposal faces resistance from Republicans worried about proposed entitlement cuts – cuts Trump himself rejected on Tuesday on Fox News, saying 'Medicare, Medicaid – none of that stuff is going to be touched'.
'If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it,' freshman Republican congressman Rob Bresnahan said on X.
The White House dispatched Vice-President JD Vance to meet Senate Republicans Wednesday afternoon, attempting to smooth tensions as both chambers grapple with how to advance Trump's agenda. But it's clear that some senators will be hard to convince.
'I'm not sure [the House budget could] pass the House or that it could pass the Senate,' Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson told reporters.
The House remains in recess until next week, leaving Senate Republicans alone on Capitol Hill to plot their next move.
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