This week, former President Donald Trump, along with his ally Tesla CEO Elon Musk, disrupted a bipartisan government spending deal just days before the deadline to avoid a shutdown. The proposed agreement would have kept the government open until March 14, bundling $100 billion in disaster aid, $10 billion for farmers, and other measures.
However, Musk criticized the deal, and Trump intervened, calling for Republicans to renegotiate, address the debt ceiling, and remove what he deemed “Democrat giveaways.” This caused chaos, with House GOP leaders attempting to pass a new version of the bill, but they struggled to gather the necessary votes, leaving the government shutdown threat looming.
Trump’s involvement in these last-minute negotiations recalls his first term in office when he often derailed funding agreements. He repeatedly used government shutdowns as leverage to push his priorities, such as securing funding for a border wall.
One of the most notable instances was in 2018, when Trump and Democratic leaders appeared to reach a deal on immigration and military spending, only for Trump to demand more stringent immigration policies, ultimately leading to a brief shutdown. A longer, 35-day shutdown followed in late 2018 and early 2019 after Trump rejected a bipartisan spending deal, demanding over $5 billion for the border wall, which Congress could not agree on.
Elon Musk
Trump’s behavior during these disputes, including his frequent use of social media to influence negotiations, played a significant role in creating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. His actions often frustrated both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as he seemed unwilling to compromise. In the end, Trump signed a short-term funding bill after realizing he did not have enough support for his wall funding, but he later declared a national emergency to bypass Congress and secure the money for the border wall.
Even after leaving office, Trump has continued to influence congressional negotiations, including calls for a government shutdown over noncitizen voting issues. This week’s events show that Trump’s disruptive style remains unchanged, and his alliance with Musk, who has also used his platform to influence politics, could amplify the chaos. Musk has threatened to back primary challengers against senators who do not support Trump’s agenda, mirroring Trump’s own tactics of pushing for primary challenges against Republicans who don’t align with his views.
Looking ahead, Republicans will control both chambers of Congress again next year, but with narrow majorities that could complicate governance. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces the challenge of keeping a divided Republican caucus united or relying on Democrats to pass legislation. This week’s struggles highlight the potential difficulties in the coming months, with Trump and Musk likely continuing to influence the process. The next funding deadline in March will test the strength of Republican unity, and it is expected that the chaotic dynamics of Trump’s first term will continue to affect legislative negotiations in the future.
