Senate Republicans Urge Trump to Outline Debt Ceiling Strategy
The Louisiana senator has been selected to advise the president on a plan to prevent a federal default.
TroibNews 
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has enlisted a straightforward Louisiana lawmaker, known for his candid political commentary and inventive metaphors, to persuade President Donald Trump to formulate a strategy for raising the debt limit later this year.
This Senate envoy, Sen. John Neely Kennedy, has expressed concerns that Trump is not yet prepared to engage with this issue, which could have significant repercussions for the global economy.
Kennedy revealed in an interview that Thune tasked him a few weeks ago with personally communicating with Trump regarding the GOP’s options to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its $36 trillion debt later this year. Kennedy mentioned that he has directly asked Trump and Vice President JD Vance to start considering a plan to raise the nation's borrowing limit to avoid a default, an event that top economists warn could severely damage America’s reputation as a dependable 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 commented about his talks with Trump.
"I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it,” Kennedy stated, noting that he understands Trump's sentiment: "'Why didn't y’all fix this before I took office?'"
In December, Trump urged Congress to integrate a debt ceiling increase into its year-end government funding package, but many House Republicans rejected that idea, leaving the new president with this unresolved issue.
Thune described Kennedy as a “good advocate” in the discussions about the debt limit and said multiple other Republicans are also involved in efforts to coordinate between the White House and GOP lawmakers on a strategy.
A White House official, who requested anonymity to speak openly, referred to Trump as a "master dealmaker" who is "always engaged in negotiations on Capitol Hill."
Despite this, Senate Republicans have been urging Trump since January to endorse a debt limit strategy, emphasizing that time is running out. According to Kennedy, Trump dedicated a “very fulsome” 20 minutes to discussing the debt limit during a meeting with Senate Republicans the day before his inauguration.
However, Kennedy expressed his lack of encouragement from 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."
Lawmakers are still waiting for the Treasury Department to provide an estimate of when the U.S. might default on its debt. Meanwhile, top lawmakers are working under the assumption that the so-called X-date could occur between June and August.
If tax revenue falls short of expectations this spring, Congress could face an unexpected fiscal crisis, similar to what occurred in 2023. Senate GOP leaders are therefore particularly eager for Trump to support some plan, especially as they deliberate on whether to include a debt ceiling increase in the extensive domestic policy package they aim to pass along party lines this year.
Should Trump and GOP leaders decide to raise the debt limit through reconciliation, they will have to convince fiscal conservatives demanding significant spending cuts in exchange and also appeal to more moderate lawmakers who might be wary of the political fallout from those cuts.
Sen. Ron Johnson, a proponent of fiscal restraint, noted, “The White House is very well aware” of his demand to return 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 to the U.S. borrowing cap in their budget outline. If that strategy fails, GOP leaders will need to seek Democratic support to prevent a debt default outside the reconciliation process, which could lead to negotiations that might increase funding levels or offer concessions to the minority party.
Unlike the House Republican budget, the Senate’s budget framework does not currently accommodate raising the debt limit. However, many Senate Republicans are now in favor of adding such language as they consider their next steps in crafting a large package of tax cuts, energy policy, border security, and defense spending enhancements.
“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,” Sen. John Hoeven, who is close to Thune, stated in a brief interview.
When asked if Senate Republicans have the backing to maintain a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation bill, Hoeven humorously replied: “If you could find that out and let us know, that would be really helpful, because that’s the question.”
Several senior House Republicans have also privately acknowledged the need for a backup plan if they cannot gather sufficient support for a party-line package to raise the borrowing limit.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Thune, and key congressional tax writers are currently meeting weekly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the broader reconciliation effort.
“There are other potential vehicles — any spending bill is an option,” Thune mentioned. When asked about combining it with a disaster aid package, another essential item on the 2025 legislative agenda, he added, "We'll see."
However, there is currently no significant discussion about including a debt limit increase in the most urgent legislation—a stopgap spending bill expected to advance through Congress this week.
Johnson and senior House Republicans are not pursuing any other strategy for the debt limit at this time, other than advocating for it to remain part of the budget plan their chamber narrowly passed two weeks ago. They are somewhat frustrated that the Senate is exploring alternative options.
Last week, during a lunch with billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk, the debt ceiling was briefly mentioned, but no decision was reached regarding a strategy.
Senate Republicans also brought up the topic during a lunch last month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. In that meeting, Kennedy urged Wiles to collaborate with Trump on a strategy for handling the situation. Wiles, according to Kennedy, did not commit to a specific approach and said 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 remarked regarding the potential need to negotiate a debt deal with Democrats. "There are two doors: Door No. 1 and door No. 2.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
This Senate envoy, Sen. John Neely Kennedy, has expressed concerns that Trump is not yet prepared to engage with this issue, which could have significant repercussions for the global economy.
Kennedy revealed in an interview that Thune tasked him a few weeks ago with personally communicating with Trump regarding the GOP’s options to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its $36 trillion debt later this year. Kennedy mentioned that he has directly asked Trump and Vice President JD Vance to start considering a plan to raise the nation's borrowing limit to avoid a default, an event that top economists warn could severely damage America’s reputation as a dependable 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 commented about his talks with Trump.
"I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it,” Kennedy stated, noting that he understands Trump's sentiment: "'Why didn't y’all fix this before I took office?'"
In December, Trump urged Congress to integrate a debt ceiling increase into its year-end government funding package, but many House Republicans rejected that idea, leaving the new president with this unresolved issue.
Thune described Kennedy as a “good advocate” in the discussions about the debt limit and said multiple other Republicans are also involved in efforts to coordinate between the White House and GOP lawmakers on a strategy.
A White House official, who requested anonymity to speak openly, referred to Trump as a "master dealmaker" who is "always engaged in negotiations on Capitol Hill."
Despite this, Senate Republicans have been urging Trump since January to endorse a debt limit strategy, emphasizing that time is running out. According to Kennedy, Trump dedicated a “very fulsome” 20 minutes to discussing the debt limit during a meeting with Senate Republicans the day before his inauguration.
However, Kennedy expressed his lack of encouragement from 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."
Lawmakers are still waiting for the Treasury Department to provide an estimate of when the U.S. might default on its debt. Meanwhile, top lawmakers are working under the assumption that the so-called X-date could occur between June and August.
If tax revenue falls short of expectations this spring, Congress could face an unexpected fiscal crisis, similar to what occurred in 2023. Senate GOP leaders are therefore particularly eager for Trump to support some plan, especially as they deliberate on whether to include a debt ceiling increase in the extensive domestic policy package they aim to pass along party lines this year.
Should Trump and GOP leaders decide to raise the debt limit through reconciliation, they will have to convince fiscal conservatives demanding significant spending cuts in exchange and also appeal to more moderate lawmakers who might be wary of the political fallout from those cuts.
Sen. Ron Johnson, a proponent of fiscal restraint, noted, “The White House is very well aware” of his demand to return 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 to the U.S. borrowing cap in their budget outline. If that strategy fails, GOP leaders will need to seek Democratic support to prevent a debt default outside the reconciliation process, which could lead to negotiations that might increase funding levels or offer concessions to the minority party.
Unlike the House Republican budget, the Senate’s budget framework does not currently accommodate raising the debt limit. However, many Senate Republicans are now in favor of adding such language as they consider their next steps in crafting a large package of tax cuts, energy policy, border security, and defense spending enhancements.
“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,” Sen. John Hoeven, who is close to Thune, stated in a brief interview.
When asked if Senate Republicans have the backing to maintain a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation bill, Hoeven humorously replied: “If you could find that out and let us know, that would be really helpful, because that’s the question.”
Several senior House Republicans have also privately acknowledged the need for a backup plan if they cannot gather sufficient support for a party-line package to raise the borrowing limit.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Thune, and key congressional tax writers are currently meeting weekly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the broader reconciliation effort.
“There are other potential vehicles — any spending bill is an option,” Thune mentioned. When asked about combining it with a disaster aid package, another essential item on the 2025 legislative agenda, he added, "We'll see."
However, there is currently no significant discussion about including a debt limit increase in the most urgent legislation—a stopgap spending bill expected to advance through Congress this week.
Johnson and senior House Republicans are not pursuing any other strategy for the debt limit at this time, other than advocating for it to remain part of the budget plan their chamber narrowly passed two weeks ago. They are somewhat frustrated that the Senate is exploring alternative options.
Last week, during a lunch with billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk, the debt ceiling was briefly mentioned, but no decision was reached regarding a strategy.
Senate Republicans also brought up the topic during a lunch last month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. In that meeting, Kennedy urged Wiles to collaborate with Trump on a strategy for handling the situation. Wiles, according to Kennedy, did not commit to a specific approach and said 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 remarked regarding the potential need to negotiate a debt deal with Democrats. "There are two doors: Door No. 1 and door No. 2.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
