President-elect Donald Trump met privately with Republican lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, as the GOP works to finalize its strategy for advancing key legislative priorities. With Republicans holding slim majorities in Congress, swift action is necessary to capitalize on Trump’s early political momentum.
Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, also paid respects to the late President Jimmy Carter, who is lying in state at the Capitol. As Republicans weigh their options, Trump’s focus remains on passing a comprehensive legislative package addressing border security, tax cuts, energy development, and immigration reforms.
The GOP is divided on whether to package Trump’s priorities into a single comprehensive bill or to divide them into two separate measures. House Republicans favor a single bill for efficiency, while Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, advocate for splitting the package to expedite action.
The Senate’s proposed approach would prioritize border security, deportation funding, and energy production within the first 30 days, while deferring tax cuts to a second bill later in the year. With tax cuts set to expire in December, GOP leaders argue there is time to address the issue later.
Trump, while expressing a preference for “one big, beautiful bill,” has signaled flexibility, stating he supports any approach that ensures results.
Republicans aim to use the budget reconciliation process to advance Trump’s priorities. This procedural tool allows passage with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the filibuster. However, reconciliation is complex and fraught with potential delays, particularly when managing two separate bills.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson likened the process to executing a football playbook, with Trump as the “head coach” guiding the strategy. Johnson emphasized the importance of unity within the GOP to navigate legislative hurdles, as he can afford no significant defections in the closely divided House.
Democrats strongly oppose the GOP agenda, accusing Republicans of prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy and slashing programs that benefit ordinary Americans. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., criticized Republicans for “huddling behind closed doors” to craft legislation he described as harmful to working families.
Trump will continue discussions with House Republicans at Mar-a-Lago this weekend to finalize the strategy. The outcome of these meetings will determine whether Republicans can unify around a legislative package that fulfills Trump’s ambitious agenda and meets the expectations of their voter base.
