Trump’s Intervention Derails Bipartisan Deal, Threatening Government Shutdown “`

WASHINGTON — President-elect Trump unexpectedly rejected a bipartisan compromise Wednesday to avert a Christmas government shutdown, demanding House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans renegotiate just days before the funding deadline.

Trump’s intervention and new demands threw Congress into turmoil as lawmakers prepared for the holiday recess, leaving Johnson scrambling for a new plan before Friday’s deadline.

“Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance declared in a statement.

The President-elect proposed a plan combining continued government funding with a controversial debt limit increase—a measure his party typically opposes. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” they asserted.

Democrats criticized Republicans’ rejection of the stopgap measure, which included $100.4 billion in disaster aid for states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.

“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans,” stated House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Jeffries insisted that “an agreement is an agreement,” and that Republicans would be responsible for any resulting harm to the American people.

The already fragile 1,500-page bill faced collapse as hard-line conservatives opposed increased spending, fueled by Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk, who rejected the plan soon after its release.

Rank-and-file lawmakers voiced concerns over extras, including their first pay raise in over a decade, following a particularly unproductive congressional session.

Even the inclusion of $100.4 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion in farm aid failed to sway budget-conscious Republicans. Many Republicans awaited Trump’s endorsement before deciding how to vote.

“This should not pass,” Musk posted on X early Wednesday morning.

One lawmaker reported a deluge of constituent calls.

“My phone was ringing off the hook,” said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

The outcome was unsurprising for Johnson, who, like previous Republican House speakers, struggled to unite his party behind essential government operations, preferring cuts instead.

This highlights the Republicans’ upcoming challenge in unifying their control of the House, Senate, and White House. It also underscores Johnson’s reliance on Trump’s approval for legislative success.

Musk, now heading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, warned that “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!”

This isn’t an empty threat from Musk, who significantly funded Trump’s campaign and can wield his America PAC to influence political careers.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland decried the situation as an “oligarchy” where a few wealthy individuals control everything, creating fear among others.

Senators from both parties observed the events with dismay.

“Is this going to be the norm? Is this going to be how we operate?” questioned Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., blaming Johnson.

Democrats, who negotiated with Johnson and Senate Republicans, are expected to provide crucial support for passage, as is typical for large bipartisan bills.

“Republicans need to stop playing politics,” stated White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

However, Trump’s new debt limit demands present a significant challenge for Johnson, who cultivated a close relationship with the President-elect—even texting with Musk and DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy—only to face his opposition.

Trump later reiterated his stance on the debt ceiling: “I will fight ’till the end.”

The debt limit expires in 2025, and Trump seeks resolution before returning to the White House—a reasonable goal, but one difficult to negotiate.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spent months negotiating a debt limit increase with President Biden. Despite a bipartisan deal cutting spending in exchange for increased borrowing, House Republicans deemed it insufficient, costing McCarthy his position.

Trump now expects Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension within 48 hours of a potential government shutdown.

The rejected bipartisan package extended existing government programs for a few months, until March 14, 2025.

This stopgap measure is necessary because Congress failed to pass annual appropriations bills funding various federal agencies, from defense and national security to domestic services.

The bill, however, included additional provisions, such as funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and transferring the RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia, potentially paving the way for a new stadium.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called it a “junk sandwich,” using stronger language.

And then there’s the pay raise.

The bill would have lifted a pay freeze, potentially allowing a 3.8% or $6,600 increase in 2025, raising lawmakers’ annual salaries to $180,600, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Members of Congress last received a raise in 2009.

—Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.