John Kennedy Stokes Efforts to Persuade Trump to Take the Debt Limit Seriously
The Louisiana senator has been chosen to advise the president on a plan to prevent a federal default.
TroibNews 
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has enlisted Louisiana lawmaker John Neely Kennedy, noted for his straightforward political insights and imaginative analogies, to spearhead efforts in persuading President Donald Trump to formulate a strategy for raising the debt limit later this year.
Kennedy has indicated that Trump is not yet prepared to concentrate on the issue, a diversion that could have significant repercussions for the global economy.
In an interview, Kennedy revealed that Thune tasked him weeks ago with communicating with Trump regarding Republican options for avoiding a default on the U.S.'s soaring $36 trillion debt. Consequently, Kennedy has directly approached both Trump and Vice President JD Vance to encourage them to consider a plan for lifting the national borrowing cap in order to avert a default—an event that leading economists warn could irrevocably damage America's standing as a trustworthy borrower.
“I've done it publicly and privately, and it's clear to me that the president is not ready to focus that much on the debt limit,” Kennedy remarked about his discussions with Trump.
“I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it,” added Kennedy, who serves on the Senate Banking and Budget committees. "And I don't blame him. His attitude is: 'Why didn't y’all fix this before I took office?'”
In December, Trump requested Congress to incorporate a debt ceiling increase in its year-end funding legislation, but numerous House Republicans objected, postponing the matter for the new administration.
Thune, in a brief conversation Monday, praised Kennedy as a “good advocate” during the debt limit talks and stated that several other Republicans are actively working to bring the White House and GOP lawmakers together on a plan.
A White House official, speaking anonymously for candidness, referred to Trump as a "master dealmaker" who is "always engaged in negotiations on Capitol Hill."
However, Senate Republicans have been urging Trump since January to support a debt limit strategy, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The day before Trump's inauguration, he met with Senate Republicans for an extensive discussion where they spoke for 20 minutes about the debt limit, according to Kennedy.
Despite this, Kennedy expressed disappointment in Trump's comments: “I don't have the slightest idea what he said. He was splendid in his evasiveness. And that's when I concluded back then, and in subsequent conversations: I concluded that he's not ready to focus on it yet."
Congress is still awaiting the Treasury Department's assessment on when the U.S. could risk defaulting on its debt, with senior lawmakers estimating that the so-called X-date might occur somewhere between June and August.
If tax revenues fall below expectations this spring, Congress could face a fiscal crisis unexpectedly, similar to what transpired in 2023. Consequently, Senate GOP leaders are eager for Trump to endorse a strategy, particularly as they deliberate on whether to increase the nation’s borrowing cap as part of a significant domestic policy package they aim to push through on party lines later this year.
Should Trump and GOP leaders attempt to increase the debt limit via reconciliation, they will need to persuade fiscal conservatives who demand substantial spending cuts in return, and similarly address moderate lawmakers who might be hesitant due to the political consequences of such reductions.
One of the deficit hawks, Sen. Ron Johnson, asserted that the “White House is very well aware” of his demand for reverting to pre-pandemic spending levels as a prerequisite for raising the debt limit.
“I know the president doesn't like this issue. But he has to understand: There are those of us who realize that that's the only leverage we have to bring down spending, and we don't want to give up that leverage,” Johnson stated in an interview.
House Republicans have already proposed a $4 trillion increase in the U.S. borrowing cap within their budget outline. If that effort falls through, GOP leaders will need to seek Democratic support to prevent a debt default outside of the reconciliation avenue, potentially leading to negotiations that could result in higher government funding levels or other concessions to the minority party.
Differing from the House Republican budget, the Senate’s budget framework does not currently include provisions for raising the debt limit. Nevertheless, many Senate Republicans now support the idea of incorporating such language as they plan their next steps toward drafting their comprehensive tax and energy policy package, including increases in border security and defense spending.
“The only question is whether we can get the votes in both the House and Senate to do it in reconciliation. Right now, that’s the plan,” remarked Sen. John Hoeven, who is allied with Thune, in a brief discussion.
When asked whether Senate Republicans possess enough support to retain a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation plan, Hoeven joked, “If you could find that out and let us know, that would be really helpful, because that’s the question.”
Meanwhile, several senior House Republicans have privately acknowledged the need for a backup strategy if they fail to gather sufficient support for a party-line package that raises the borrowing limit.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Thune, and prominent congressional tax writers are now meeting weekly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the larger reconciliation endeavor.
“There are other potential vehicles — any spending bill is an option,” Thune noted. When asked if it could be combined with a disaster aid package—a critical item on the 2025 legislative agenda—he added, "We'll see."
One notable point is that there has been no concrete discussion regarding a debt limit increase on the immediate priority: the stopgap spending bill expected to move through Congress this week.
Johnson and senior House Republicans currently have no alternative plans for the debt limit aside from advocating for its retention within the budget proposal their chamber narrowly approved two weeks prior—and they are largely frustrated that the Senate is considering alternatives.
During a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans last week, billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk briefly mentioned the debt ceiling, but no clear strategy emerged.
Senate Republicans also discussed the debt limit during a lunch last month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Kennedy informed Wiles that she and Trump should consider the most effective way to address the issue. However, Wiles did not commit to a specific approach and stated she would discuss it with Trump.
“I just want to make sure that the president understands that if we do it outside of reconciliation, we've got to pay bribes," Kennedy explained regarding the likelihood of having to negotiate a debt deal with Democrats. "There are two doors: Door No. 1 and door No. 2."
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Kennedy has indicated that Trump is not yet prepared to concentrate on the issue, a diversion that could have significant repercussions for the global economy.
In an interview, Kennedy revealed that Thune tasked him weeks ago with communicating with Trump regarding Republican options for avoiding a default on the U.S.'s soaring $36 trillion debt. Consequently, Kennedy has directly approached both Trump and Vice President JD Vance to encourage them to consider a plan for lifting the national borrowing cap in order to avert a default—an event that leading economists warn could irrevocably damage America's standing as a trustworthy borrower.
“I've done it publicly and privately, and it's clear to me that the president is not ready to focus that much on the debt limit,” Kennedy remarked about his discussions with Trump.
“I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it,” added Kennedy, who serves on the Senate Banking and Budget committees. "And I don't blame him. His attitude is: 'Why didn't y’all fix this before I took office?'”
In December, Trump requested Congress to incorporate a debt ceiling increase in its year-end funding legislation, but numerous House Republicans objected, postponing the matter for the new administration.
Thune, in a brief conversation Monday, praised Kennedy as a “good advocate” during the debt limit talks and stated that several other Republicans are actively working to bring the White House and GOP lawmakers together on a plan.
A White House official, speaking anonymously for candidness, referred to Trump as a "master dealmaker" who is "always engaged in negotiations on Capitol Hill."
However, Senate Republicans have been urging Trump since January to support a debt limit strategy, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The day before Trump's inauguration, he met with Senate Republicans for an extensive discussion where they spoke for 20 minutes about the debt limit, according to Kennedy.
Despite this, Kennedy expressed disappointment in Trump's comments: “I don't have the slightest idea what he said. He was splendid in his evasiveness. And that's when I concluded back then, and in subsequent conversations: I concluded that he's not ready to focus on it yet."
Congress is still awaiting the Treasury Department's assessment on when the U.S. could risk defaulting on its debt, with senior lawmakers estimating that the so-called X-date might occur somewhere between June and August.
If tax revenues fall below expectations this spring, Congress could face a fiscal crisis unexpectedly, similar to what transpired in 2023. Consequently, Senate GOP leaders are eager for Trump to endorse a strategy, particularly as they deliberate on whether to increase the nation’s borrowing cap as part of a significant domestic policy package they aim to push through on party lines later this year.
Should Trump and GOP leaders attempt to increase the debt limit via reconciliation, they will need to persuade fiscal conservatives who demand substantial spending cuts in return, and similarly address moderate lawmakers who might be hesitant due to the political consequences of such reductions.
One of the deficit hawks, Sen. Ron Johnson, asserted that the “White House is very well aware” of his demand for reverting to pre-pandemic spending levels as a prerequisite for raising the debt limit.
“I know the president doesn't like this issue. But he has to understand: There are those of us who realize that that's the only leverage we have to bring down spending, and we don't want to give up that leverage,” Johnson stated in an interview.
House Republicans have already proposed a $4 trillion increase in the U.S. borrowing cap within their budget outline. If that effort falls through, GOP leaders will need to seek Democratic support to prevent a debt default outside of the reconciliation avenue, potentially leading to negotiations that could result in higher government funding levels or other concessions to the minority party.
Differing from the House Republican budget, the Senate’s budget framework does not currently include provisions for raising the debt limit. Nevertheless, many Senate Republicans now support the idea of incorporating such language as they plan their next steps toward drafting their comprehensive tax and energy policy package, including increases in border security and defense spending.
“The only question is whether we can get the votes in both the House and Senate to do it in reconciliation. Right now, that’s the plan,” remarked Sen. John Hoeven, who is allied with Thune, in a brief discussion.
When asked whether Senate Republicans possess enough support to retain a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation plan, Hoeven joked, “If you could find that out and let us know, that would be really helpful, because that’s the question.”
Meanwhile, several senior House Republicans have privately acknowledged the need for a backup strategy if they fail to gather sufficient support for a party-line package that raises the borrowing limit.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Thune, and prominent congressional tax writers are now meeting weekly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the larger reconciliation endeavor.
“There are other potential vehicles — any spending bill is an option,” Thune noted. When asked if it could be combined with a disaster aid package—a critical item on the 2025 legislative agenda—he added, "We'll see."
One notable point is that there has been no concrete discussion regarding a debt limit increase on the immediate priority: the stopgap spending bill expected to move through Congress this week.
Johnson and senior House Republicans currently have no alternative plans for the debt limit aside from advocating for its retention within the budget proposal their chamber narrowly approved two weeks prior—and they are largely frustrated that the Senate is considering alternatives.
During a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans last week, billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk briefly mentioned the debt ceiling, but no clear strategy emerged.
Senate Republicans also discussed the debt limit during a lunch last month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Kennedy informed Wiles that she and Trump should consider the most effective way to address the issue. However, Wiles did not commit to a specific approach and stated she would discuss it with Trump.
“I just want to make sure that the president understands that if we do it outside of reconciliation, we've got to pay bribes," Kennedy explained regarding the likelihood of having to negotiate a debt deal with Democrats. "There are two doors: Door No. 1 and door No. 2."
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
