Donald Trump has not yet reached Washington, and he is already facing the challenges that come with the boundaries of his so-called electoral mandate. It’s understandable that his last-minute effort to disrupt a meticulously crafted bill aimed at keeping the government funded until March did not yield the desired result.
To Trump’s chagrin, the bill passed. And it did so with the support of many Republicans.
This situation has revealed a deep-seated division among House Republicans, which had been overshadowed by the GOP’s post-election excitement. It highlights that Trump’s influence over his party is not as strong as it might seem.
In an unexpected development, 38 Republicans stood against the president-elect on Thursday. By early Saturday morning—just two days after Trump warned of primary challenges for those who backed government funding without removing the debt limit—170 House Republicans and numerous GOP senators voted in favor of it.
The tumultuous events just a month before Trump’s return to the White House highlight an important lesson: governing has often tripped up even the most successful politicians. This episode serves as a clear indication of the hurdles Trump will face, especially with a slim majority in the House and a Senate packed with individuals who anticipate remaining beyond his four-year term in Washington.
Trump has claimed that his decisive victory in November should remove any obstacles to his agenda. He insists on loyalty from fellow Republicans, often exaggerating the extent of his win. While he is the first Republican in a generation to secure the popular vote, it’s important to note that less than half of the country supported him, and although his Electoral College margin was significant, it wasn’t unprecedented.
Moreover, he won the popular vote by a mere 1.47 percent.
“The beauty is that we won by so much,” Trump told Time Magazine in a recent interview. “The mandate was massive.”
Ummm… no.
Last month, Trump faced several defeats within his party before taking office. He appeared to abandon efforts to get his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a Senate seat due to opposition from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. After nominating Marco Rubio for secretary of state, DeSantis faced pressure from MAGA Republicans to appoint Lara as a replacement.
Sources told CNN that Trump communicated his preference privately to DeSantis, who responded that appointing her was problematic and he would look elsewhere. On Monday, Trump told reporters he didn’t expect Lara’s appointment and distanced himself from the campaign. On Saturday, Lara withdrew her name for consideration publicly on X.
And let’s not forget, President-elect Trump initially considered former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general but shifted focus due to nomination concerns. He didn’t have enough support among Republicans so he chose Pam Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General, as an alternative to lead the Justice Department effectively.
Also, Trump ally Rick Scott lost his bid to lead the Republican majority to Sen. John Thune, who encouraged moving on from Trump. While Trump didn’t endorse anyone, Scott had public support from Trump’s allies, including Charlie Kirk and Elon Musk.
Trump’s allies have emphasized the importance of unwavering loyalty from Republican lawmakers, making it clear that any deviation from supporting the incoming president could lead to public repercussions.
But, so far, incumbent Republicans in Congress aren’t phased by Trump’s threats to primary them.
A source familiar with the call informed CNN that Trump appeared both frustrated and resigned as he began to realize that, despite his significant influence over the GOP, there are certain issues on which some conservatives remain steadfast. On Friday, lawmakers successfully persuaded Trump that achieving his goal would inevitably lead to a costly shutdown, highlighting the need for a more strategic approach.
It seems that Trump’s allies are indicating that this is just the start of something larger – Trump won’t have as much pull with Republicans as he hoped.
“If you think the last 48 hours have been unique,” former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said Friday on his podcast, “every day coming in when President Trump takes over is going to be like this.”