Some House Republicans are privately furious after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were involved in Congressional discussions on government funding and led attacks to block a bipartisan agreement.
Several Republicans, who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive situation, were either unhappy with the men's involvement or believed it exacerbated long-standing weaknesses within the House Republican conference.
“Mr. Musk and Mr. Vivek should not have barged in at the 11th hour and should have negotiated directly with the Speaker. People on the same side should not act like these two,” said one House Republican. spoke. “They care more about clicks and bright lights than getting the job done. If I saw them tearing apart speakers in public, I'd have nothing to do with them.” Dew.”
“What if Elon and Vivek were freelancing and left without coordination with the government,” said a second Republican lawmaker. [President-elect Trump]they come dangerously close to undermining the actual 47th President of the United States. ”
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is in a political quagmire after helping Elon Musk scale back the spending deal. (Getty Images)
A third lawmaker accused Mr Ramaswamy of distorting the facts.
“He didn't read the whole thing. [continuing resolution] And much of what he's talking about is misinformation,” they said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is preparing to vote on a bipartisan 1,547-page agreement known as the Continuing Resolution (CR) that would extend current government funding levels through March 14. was.
The goal is to give Congressional negotiators time to finalize an agreement on how to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2025, while also beginning a fight for a period in which Republicans control the House, Senate and White House. Ta.
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But Republican hardliners were furious at what they saw as last-minute additions to the bill with unrelated measures and policy riders.
In addition to avoiding a partial government shutdown through March 14, the bill includes health care and ethanol fuel provisions, as well as more than $100 billion in disaster relief funds and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. It also includes measures to fund the rebuilding of the company, as well as the first pay increases. For members of parliament since 2009.
One Republican accused Vivek Ramaswamy of spreading misinformation. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy quickly joined the opposition, with Mr. Musk at one point threatening to support primary challengers against CR-supporting Republicans.
Less than 24 hours after the bill was announced, House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) told reporters that the bill was dead.
House Republican leaders are working on a Plan B, but it's unclear whether it will win Democratic support, if any at all.
In an interview with FOX News Digital, a 4th House Republican said of Musk's involvement, “I think it influenced a weak member of Congress who didn't have direction until he tweeted.''
“He is only highlighting bad government and indirectly a weak legislature,” they said.
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On December 7, 2024, President-elect Trump visits the Elysée Palace to meet with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. (Oleg Nikin/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, President Trump threatened Republican primary voters who support a “clean” CR without raising the debt ceiling, which expires in January 2025.
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The issue caused major disruption to Wednesday night's negotiations, given the months of politically brutal negotiations that typically accompany raising or suspending the debt ceiling.
One Republican was outraged by Trump's threat, saying, “When Trump threatens to make us 'party number one,' it also diminishes his standing with many of us. I want nothing to do with him.” I don’t want to have it,” he said.
