Statements from key Republican figures or major news outlets

Trump and Vance Reject Johnson's 1,574-Page Spending Bill, Urge GOP to 'Call Democrats' Bluff'

Dec 18, 2024, 09:32 PM

President Trump, aligning with Elon Musk, has come out "totally against" the proposed Continuing Resolution (CR) spending bill, a 1,574-page measure introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson to prevent a government shutdown. In a joint statement with Senator JD Vance, Trump urged Republicans to reject the bill, calling it "massive" and "bloated," and urged them to "get smart and tough." He stated, "Let’s have this debate now. And we should pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want." Trump emphasized that if Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless they receive everything they want, Republicans should "call their bluff." Trump and Vance propose a temporary funding bill without "Democrat giveaways" combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. With the government's funding deadline two days away, Trump's opposition could jeopardize the bill's passage.