President Donald Trump has made it clear that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) must take immediate action to overhaul the current government funding plan if he hopes to hold on to his position. The proposal, which was intended to prevent a partial government shutdown, has sparked significant backlash from Republican lawmakers, many of whom see it as a giveaway to Democrats and a failure to protect the nation’s fiscal health.
Trump, along with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, has firmly rejected the bipartisan deal, calling on Johnson to “course-correct” and remove provisions that he claims will harm the country economically. “If Speaker Johnson acts decisively and removes the traps set by the Democrats, he will easily remain Speaker,” Trump told Fox News. Trump’s warning came as GOP leaders, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), distanced themselves from the bill, signaling its likely collapse.
The proposed 1,547-page stopgap funding bill includes controversial measures, such as $100 billion in disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers, and the first congressional pay raise since 2009. These provisions have angered conservative Republicans, who argue that they are nothing more than “Democrat giveaways” designed to appease the left at the expense of taxpayers. Musk and Ramaswamy, who co-chair the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have also publicly criticized the bill, calling for its rejection.
Trump and Vance have made it clear that any bill that does not include provisions to address the national debt ceiling is a “betrayal” of conservative principles. “Anybody who endorses a bill that fails to tackle the Democrat trap known as our debt ceiling should be voted out as fast as possible,” Trump said, warning Republicans that failure to act could have dire consequences for the country.
As Speaker Johnson faces mounting pressure from within his own party, some Republicans have openly called for his removal. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has made it clear that he will not support Johnson in the upcoming vote, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested the GOP might consider electing a figure like Elon Musk to shake up the establishment and disrupt the political status quo.
With the new Congress set to convene on January 3, 2025, Johnson’s leadership is in peril. To pass any funding measure, he may have to rely on Democratic support, which would only deepen the rift within the GOP. The White House has weighed in, urging Republicans to stop “playing politics” with the funding issue, but conservative leaders are pushing back, demanding a stronger stance on fiscal responsibility and debt control.
As Republicans prepare for a contentious battle over the government funding package, it’s clear that the party’s internal divisions are only growing, and Speaker Johnson’s leadership is on the line. Trump’s influence in shaping the party’s direction remains a powerful force, as he continues to push for a GOP that stands firm on conservative values, especially on issues like government spending and the national debt.