DORAL, Fla. — During a recent gathering with House Republicans, President Donald Trump reminisced about his initial week in office and motivated lawmakers to back his initiatives related to immigration enforcement and bolstering border security.
“We have no apologies and we’re moving very fast,” Trump remarked as he expressed the emphasis he places on border issues over economic concerns like inflation, which had been a pivotal topic during his campaign last year but is less manageable in his current role.
At the annual policy retreat held at Trump National Doral Miami, an upscale resort owned by Trump, he outlined his political goals and urged lawmakers to push forward their conservative agenda.
“We’re forming a new political majority that is dismantling and replacing Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal coalition, which has held sway over American politics for more than a century,” he stated.
As the Republicans celebrate their control of Washington, they are also preparing for tough negotiations ahead. They face a deadline of March 14 to agree on a spending measure before the federal government’s funding runs out.
Additionally, the party is developing a budget plan designed to lay the groundwork for broader initiatives, including tax reductions, fossil fuel projects, and enhanced border security. With slim margins in both the House and Senate, they will require almost unanimous support from their ranks to pass legislation without Democratic backing.
Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana announced that the House Budget Committee is scheduled to review the budget blueprint in the first week of February, marking a crucial step in the legislative process.
“That’s where the majority of our campaign commitments will be realized,” Johnson noted, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among lawmakers.
Typically, a new presidential term is followed by a surge in political influence, a situation that may be even more pronounced for Trump in his second term as he cannot seek a third due to constitutional limits.
Yet, Trump found humor in his situation during his remarks. “I think I’m not allowed to run again,” he jokingly said while looking at Johnson. “Am I allowed to run again, Mike?”
Johnson has been considering a comprehensive bill that would bundle various Republican objectives together to circumvent potential filibusters by Senate Democrats. However, some Republican senators sit in favor of separating the proposals into two distinct bills, one focusing on border security and defense, and the other expanding tax cuts from Trump’s earlier presidency.
“Whether it’s one bill or two, I don’t mind,” Trump affirmed at the Doral gathering.
The party is also contemplating potential revisions to essential social safety net programs, such as instituting work requirements for Medicaid participants, to help mitigate the costs of implementing their initiatives. Trump has suggested financially demanding measures like exempting tipped wages and Social Security payments from income taxes.
House Republicans anticipate that further details will emerge after their retreat in Doral, with a focus on celebrating the successes of Trump’s inaugural week, specifically mentioning his recent confrontation with Colombia regarding the return of deported migrants.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Colombia had consented to all conditions set by Trump, agreeing to accept an unrestricted number of illegal immigrants sent back from the U.S., including those transported by military aircraft.
“Consider this, Trump achieved that during the first half of his golf game,” remarked Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich. “The era of America being pushed around is over, thanks to President Trump.”
In anticipation of the budget negotiations, Democrats are framing the Republican strategy as one that favors the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable populations, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeling it a “contract against America.”
“This will negatively impact working families, the middle class, children, seniors, and veterans,” Jeffries added.
Republicans are alerting that a failure to swiftly extend tax relief could lead to significant financial drawbacks, leaving families to face reduced child tax credits and a higher federal tax burden next year due to limitations on guaranteed tax deductions.
Before concluding his address, Trump urged the lawmakers to maintain their unity, asserting that they had the opportunity for unprecedented victories.
“If we remain united as the Republican Party, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. I hope you stay unified,” he encouraged.
