President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t much care how Congress passes his legislative agenda. But he has decided that the best way forward is to play to the lowest common denominator — House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Trump made this clear Wednesday night when, during a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans, he repeatedly backed Johnson’s preferred strategy on budget reconciliation — crafting one massive package covering tax cuts, spending cuts, immigration, energy policy and more. This came even as GOP senators were trying to convince him otherwise.
The 90-minute meeting featured several Republican senators making their pitches to Trump on why a two-step process is the best way to accomplish his agenda.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was among those trying to persuade Trump, in addition to GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and John Hoeven (N.D.), according to multiple Republicans in the room.
Cruz told reporters afterward that opting for a one-bill route would amount to “putting all the eggs in one basket and risking not getting the votes.”
Trump engaged with senators in real time to push back against their arguments. Trump repeatedly used his “one big beautiful bill” line, mostly relying on Johnson’s talking points on why a one-bill strategy is best. Each time, Trump deferred to what Johnson had the ability to pass — a response that frustrated many Senate Republicans in the room. Trump was especially spun up during Graham’s speech, we’re told.
While Trump was endorsing Johnson’s strategy, he wasn’t doing so in a way that complimented the speaker. In fact, Trump made clear that he was aware Johnson and House Republicans are the weakest link in the GOP trifecta that will control Washington starting in a couple of weeks.
Near the end of the meeting, Thune asked Trump if he’d consider splitting his agenda into two bills if significant roadblocks emerge with one mega-bill. Trump said yes but maintained that he wants Republicans to aim for one comprehensive bill.
What’s next? Republican senators emerged from the meeting fearing that nothing had really changed — that their internecine strategic dispute over how to approach reconciliation would continue, and that Trump’s agenda could suffer as a result.
“People are still overlooking the fact that we need to pass a budget first. That means at least 50 of us in the Senate and… almost all [Republican] members of the House have to agree to the same budget. And then the hard work begins,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told us. “I worry — I hope we don’t squander an opportunity here while there’s a bit of wind at our backs.”
And that’s before even getting into the details of the legislative package. On that front, there were already some warning signs coming out of Wednesday’s meeting.
When asked what Trump proposed as pay-fors, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Trump once again called for “big, beautiful tariffs.” Paul went on to disparage this idea. He’s not alone on this.
Noms update: Partisan tensions are building in the Senate over confirming Trump’s Cabinet nominees.
On Wednesday, Senate Energy Committee Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) noticed a confirmation hearing for Doug Burgum, Trump’s nominee for interior secretary, despite objections from the panel’s top Democrat, Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.
Heinrich said Lee had skirted Senate precedent by scheduling a hearing before a nominee’s paperwork had been completed and submitted to the committee. Lee countered that Burgum had submitted all required documents. Lee also said he expects the Office of Government Ethics to provide its information on Burgum to the committee by the time the hearing takes place.
Late Wednesday night, Lee again noticed a Jan. 15 confirmation hearing over Heinrich’s objections. This time, it’s for Trump’s energy secretary nominee, Chris Wright. In a letter we obtained, Heinrich said the Democratic side of the panel hasn’t yet received Wright’s financial disclosure forms.
News: Dan Ziegler, Johnson’s policy director, is leaving the speaker’s office. Ziegler has been with Johnson since November 2023. Previously, Ziegler was a lobbyist at Williams and Jensen and the executive director of the Republican Study Committee. Here’s Johnson on Ziegler’s departure:
