Trump says it ‘doesn’t matter’ whether Republicans use one or two bills to pass his agenda
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President-elect Donald Trump met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgency of passing his agenda, while downplaying the differences in strategy among GOP leaders. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, touched on a range of issues, including border control, the debt limit, tax cuts, energy policy, and national security. At one point, Trump even jokingly discussed the possibility of making Canada the 51st state.
Trump acknowledged a split in opinion between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune regarding how to best move his proposals forward. However, he made it clear that he was leaving the details to Congress, stressing that the final outcome would remain the same regardless of whether one or two bills were used. “One bill, two bills — doesn’t matter to me. They’re going to work that out. But the end result is going to be the same,” Trump stated.
Trump is in Washington to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, whom he criticized during a news conference on Tuesday. After paying his respects to Carter on Wednesday, Trump met with Republican senators, five days after newly elected lawmakers took office, giving the GOP full control of the Washington power structure. Senators who attended the meeting described it as productive, with Trump taking questions on a wide range of issues, from foreign relations to domestic policies.
Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri noted that Trump is “ready to roll,” with a sense of renewed energy after his victory. Republican senators in the meeting emphasized the shared goal of delivering significant wins on issues that Trump campaigned on. Schmitt explained that everyone was aligned in their desire to pass meaningful legislation, and the atmosphere in the room was one of enthusiasm.
Budget and Legislative Strategy Discussions
While there was broad agreement on the need to push Trump’s agenda forward, there was some division within the GOP on how to approach the legislative strategy. Some senators advocated for breaking Trump’s proposals into two separate bills—one focused on border security, national security, and energy policies, and the other addressing tax cuts and budget matters. Trump appeared open to this idea but was also receptive to the idea of consolidating the policies into a single, comprehensive package if that would help pass the bills through the House.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said that Trump was open to multiple strategies, and the conversation in the meeting was wide-ranging. However, the strategic conversations were still ongoing, and no final decisions had been made. Thune reiterated that the GOP was united behind Trump’s agenda, and while the strategy was still being worked out, the party was committed to achieving results.
Trump was also receptive to an idea proposed by Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, who suggested a “horse race” between the House and Senate to see which chamber could pass Trump’s agenda first. Hoeven said that Trump seemed open to this competitive approach, which could potentially speed up the legislative process.
Despite these discussions, the House GOP remains far from reaching an agreement on the specifics of Trump’s proposed budget. House Republicans are still in the early stages of debating what spending cuts to include in the budget. The debt ceiling, which needs to be addressed before the GOP finalizes its budget, was not discussed in Wednesday’s meeting. Speaker Johnson has set a tentative deadline of April 3 to pass Trump’s package in the House, but the details of the bill are yet to be fully outlined.
Support for Trump’s Expansionist Ideas
Earlier in the day, several of Trump’s allies expressed support for his controversial expansionist ideas, including the suggestion that the U.S. should take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even make Canada the 51st state. Trump had made headlines the previous day by not ruling out the use of military action to acquire Greenland or the Panama Canal. On Wednesday, when asked about the idea of military intervention, Trump deflected, instead describing the positive reception his son, Donald Trump Jr., received during a visit to Greenland.
Several GOP senators weighed in on Trump’s proposals, with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall supporting Trump’s view on Greenland, citing its strategic value for national security. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama agreed, saying it was time to “expand.” North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer acknowledged the strategic importance of Greenland but downplayed the idea of military action, stating, “I don’t really want to invade Denmark, but I think it’s hard to deny that Greenland would be a really nice strategic piece of property.”
Reactions from House Republicans were mixed. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, from a swing district, voiced concerns about treating Denmark and other U.S. allies in such a way. Meanwhile, North Carolina Representative Chuck Edwards stated he would need to discuss the idea with Trump before making a judgment. Texas Representative Wesley Hunt expressed support for the idea, calling it “ambitious” but a great opportunity for the country.
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares to take office, his agenda remains at the forefront of Republican efforts in Congress. While there are still disagreements on the legislative strategy, there is a shared commitment to advancing Trump’s policies. The coming months will determine how these plans take shape, and whether the GOP can come together to pass the legislation needed to implement Trump’s priorities.
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