House Republicans are doing everything they can to unite in anticipation of the party taking full control of the government under President-elect Donald Trump.
But House Republicans are in turmoil and will face a series of obstacles as they seek to advance their ambitious agenda, with their majority set to be once again slim for the next two years. In the midst of this, it is likely that they will be faced with a surprise from President Trump.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who was tasked with tallying votes on his party's legislative priorities, predicted such debates to come.
“It's not always going to be smooth sailing, and there may be disagreements along the way,” Emmer said after Wednesday's reelection as he works to implement President Trump's policies. “But we have always believed strongly that there is more that unites us than what divides us.”
The warring factions are trying to put up a good fight. Under the deal struck by hardline conservatives and anti-chaos Republicans, it would take at least nine members to force a vote to remove the speaker, instead of just one, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's The resignation brought the House of Representatives to a standstill. (R-Calif.) was ousted last year.
In return, a proposal to punish lawmakers who veer off course in procedural votes, a once-unusual measure used numerous times this Congress to block legislative action, was withdrawn.
And although House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was unanimously reelected, he still must pull together a difficult conference to win reelection in the House.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-Okla.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, predicted that Johnson would retain the gavel fairly easily.
“There are moves to prepare President Trump to get off to a good start,” Norman said. “If I can hold out, I think I will.
However, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), a ranking member of the House Rules Committee, said that the new nine-member threshold for a motion to resign does not solidify Prime Minister Johnson's position. It also does not protect the House from chaos caused by Republicans, he said.
“Just because we go from 1 to 9 doesn't guarantee that we're going to stay stable here,” McGovern said. “[That] The fact that Mike Johnson and some of the Republican leadership agreed to that deal tells me it's a cheap date. ”
And Republicans are already anticipating a difficult road ahead, as Republican leaders plan an ambitious legislative plan with full government control.
The first is a massive tax package, which Republicans hope will pass through a budget reconciliation process that avoids the need for a Senate filibuster or Democratic support.
The bill's price tag is likely to be resisted by budget hardliners unless it is combined with spending cuts in other areas.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), one of the most vocal conservative hardliners in the House of Representatives, said of the proposed tax system, “We shouldn't move forward with a bill that isn't deficit-neutral, at least objectively.'' ” he said. .
“Republican unity will last as long as we come together to advance the agenda we were sent here. That doesn't mean more deficits. It's about, you know, HR2 and border security. It doesn't mean we're already talking about moving away from the United States or anything like that,” Roy said, referring to the House Republican border bill that was passed in 2023.
Other Republicans in the House Republican caucus are hopeful that Trump will bring the House of Representatives to a consensus.
“If they get on board with Trump's policies and become obstructionists, I think Trump will be strong enough to parachute into their own districts with a megaphone. And whether or not the members of Congress can withstand that. I don’t know,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.).
He mentioned Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) who are leaving the Freedom Caucus.
Good, who was chairman of the Freedom Caucus, lost the presidential primary because Good supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) and Trump supported his opponent. Mr. Rosendale was photographed refusing to respond to Mr. Trump's calls during Mr. McCarthy's protracted presidential race, but after Mr. Trump endorsed current Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-S.C.). , withdrew his candidacy for the Senate and refused reelection to the House of Representatives.
Some Democrats also feel fear of President Trump's wrath could lead to more unity in the Republican Party.
“Frankly, Trump may be what's bringing them together,” Rep. John Larson (R-Conn.) said of the House Republican conference.
However, President Trump could also lead to divisions within the party. His selection of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as attorney general was one of the first shocks for the party.
When the Gaetz news broke, House Republicans were gathered in a closed Republican conference, and one person who was present said there were “audible gasps.” Although Gaetz is disliked by many of his House Republican colleagues, he is encouraged by others.
Zinke, who led the Interior Department during President Trump's first term, said there were many things that surprised him during his time in the cabinet.
“Sometimes you never knew if he was intentionally making fun of people or because he was very, very intelligent…Sometimes people from Manhattan, [are] I’m just kidding,” Zinke said.
Michael Schnell and Mike Lillis contributed.
