In a new ultimatum issued just hours after a spending measure he supported in the House collapsed, President-elect Donald Trump demanded that Congress either abolish the government’s legal borrowing limit or postpone its expiration date to as late as 2029.
“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Trump responded to the news on Truth Social, informing his supporters that they “should never make a deal” that does not include his suggested modifications to the debt ceiling.
The announcement emphasizes Trump’s staunch stance in negotiations with a Congress that is still in a state of disarray, despite the fact that he is on the brink of assuming office next month.
On Thursday, the government shutdown impasse was further exacerbated by the failure of a short-term spending measure, which was personally endorsed by the president-elect, to garner sufficient Republican support.
Congressional leaders worked behind closed doors to develop a strategy that would satisfy the more cautious members of their caucus and the incoming administration’s insistence on significant changes.
Nevertheless, the bill’s advancement was abruptly halted when dozens of Republican legislators, rather than rubber stamping Trump’s proposal, broke ranks.
In the midst of the busiest travel period, the government is at a genuine risk of running out of funds, which could disrupt airport operations and incite concerns about service disruptions and furloughs, as no alternative plan is currently underway.
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