Trump was smoothly heading towards his inauguration; now, he's confronting significant turmoil.
Government shutdowns have consistently registered low approval ratings among voters, and widespread furloughs would not bode well for Washington's GOP trifecta, especially with Trump’s inauguration just a month away.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump appeared to be navigating his early presidency with relative ease.
Following a strong electoral win last month, he seemed to have united his party around even his most contentious Cabinet selections, enjoying solid public approval ratings. He had committed to fostering a robust economy, with tech industry leaders and foreign dignitaries eager to connect with him or sponsor his inauguration.
Then Wednesday arrived.
The political landscape experienced two jarring developments this week, throwing Washington into disarray as Republicans raced to prevent a self-imposed government shutdown while addressing a downturn in the markets during the crucial holiday shopping season.
As American consumers wrapped up their peak spending period, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates, leading to a decline in market performance.
Simultaneously, Trump’s close ally Elon Musk publicly criticized a spending bill supported by Speaker Mike Johnson, derailing it with a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that warned any GOP member backing the bill should face removal. Trump chimed in, insisting that Congress raise the debt ceiling, leaving Johnson with less than 40 hours to avert a government shutdown before the holiday break.
This scenario feels reminiscent of 2017, when congressional Republicans hastily approved a continuing resolution just five days before Christmas, ensuing a contentious standoff with Democrats over issues like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and disaster relief.
However, this time around, certain Republican influencers — Musk among them — are suggesting that a shutdown might not be as detrimental as it seems.
“No bills should be passed [by] Congress until Jan 20, when [Trump] takes office,” Musk stated on his social media platform, X. “None. Zero.”
On Thursday, Rep. Tim Burchett also voiced support for a shutdown, echoing Musk’s sentiment with a blunt “Shut it down.” Similarly, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated she was “all in” for a shutdown “all the way until Jan 20th as far as I’m concerned.”
Yet, government shutdowns have historically been unpopular among the electorate, and widespread furloughs could set a grim tone for the GOP leadership just weeks ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Moreover, some Republicans have begun to consider Musk as a potential candidate for House leadership, which raises concerns for Speaker Johnson.
On Thursday morning, Johnson and Trump’s team were engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions aimed at formulating a stopgap solution that would encompass disaster relief, a delayed resolution on the debt limit, and an extension of the farm bill, as reported by PMG. They have until midnight Friday to finalize their strategy.
Meanwhile, Democrats are closely observing the situation, keenly aware of the tensions within the Republican ranks. In a statement on Wednesday evening, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized GOP lawmakers for “playing politics” and asserted that a shutdown would “hurt hard-working Americans and create instability across the country.”
“House Republicans have unilaterally decided to break an agreement that would provide support for everyday Americans, keep the government open, and avoid a government shutdown,” remarked Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a press briefing on Thursday morning. “If you break an agreement, you own the consequences visited upon the Americans.”
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition did not respond promptly to a request for comment.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Following a strong electoral win last month, he seemed to have united his party around even his most contentious Cabinet selections, enjoying solid public approval ratings. He had committed to fostering a robust economy, with tech industry leaders and foreign dignitaries eager to connect with him or sponsor his inauguration.
Then Wednesday arrived.
The political landscape experienced two jarring developments this week, throwing Washington into disarray as Republicans raced to prevent a self-imposed government shutdown while addressing a downturn in the markets during the crucial holiday shopping season.
As American consumers wrapped up their peak spending period, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates, leading to a decline in market performance.
Simultaneously, Trump’s close ally Elon Musk publicly criticized a spending bill supported by Speaker Mike Johnson, derailing it with a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that warned any GOP member backing the bill should face removal. Trump chimed in, insisting that Congress raise the debt ceiling, leaving Johnson with less than 40 hours to avert a government shutdown before the holiday break.
This scenario feels reminiscent of 2017, when congressional Republicans hastily approved a continuing resolution just five days before Christmas, ensuing a contentious standoff with Democrats over issues like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and disaster relief.
However, this time around, certain Republican influencers — Musk among them — are suggesting that a shutdown might not be as detrimental as it seems.
“No bills should be passed [by] Congress until Jan 20, when [Trump] takes office,” Musk stated on his social media platform, X. “None. Zero.”
On Thursday, Rep. Tim Burchett also voiced support for a shutdown, echoing Musk’s sentiment with a blunt “Shut it down.” Similarly, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated she was “all in” for a shutdown “all the way until Jan 20th as far as I’m concerned.”
Yet, government shutdowns have historically been unpopular among the electorate, and widespread furloughs could set a grim tone for the GOP leadership just weeks ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Moreover, some Republicans have begun to consider Musk as a potential candidate for House leadership, which raises concerns for Speaker Johnson.
On Thursday morning, Johnson and Trump’s team were engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions aimed at formulating a stopgap solution that would encompass disaster relief, a delayed resolution on the debt limit, and an extension of the farm bill, as reported by PMG. They have until midnight Friday to finalize their strategy.
Meanwhile, Democrats are closely observing the situation, keenly aware of the tensions within the Republican ranks. In a statement on Wednesday evening, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized GOP lawmakers for “playing politics” and asserted that a shutdown would “hurt hard-working Americans and create instability across the country.”
“House Republicans have unilaterally decided to break an agreement that would provide support for everyday Americans, keep the government open, and avoid a government shutdown,” remarked Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a press briefing on Thursday morning. “If you break an agreement, you own the consequences visited upon the Americans.”
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition did not respond promptly to a request for comment.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
