Donald Trump’s Recent Victory in the Battle of the Budget Shows He’s Already the Nation’s Leader
Donald Trump will not be president of the United States for another month, but his recent victory in the battle of the budget shows that, for all intents and purposes, he is already the nation’s leader. In a few days, Trump’s pressure on Congress, including using his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attack dogs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, turned a 1,500-page monstrosity of a bill into a slim 120-page bill of basic necessities.
Prior to Trump’s intervention, it looked like House Speaker Mike Johnson would stuff the Democrats’ stockings with pork and goodies to ensure a shutdown did not mar next month’s inauguration. But Trump’s team began posting on X the deep flaws of the legislation, including funding for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, a self-serving pay hike for lawmakers, and billions to be spent on pet projects.
The American people began to wake up to what was in the bill and object, and a trickle of GOP lawmakers flipped from yes to no. Trump then tore into the bill, threatening lawmakers who voted for it with primary challenges and even indicating that Johnson’s speakership could be in doubt if he did not get in line.
The result was that the bill was killed, and a shutdown was averted. By Friday night, a cleaner and leaner bill passed the House. Former GOP Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich praised Trump’s efforts, saying that the election did matter and he is really the de facto President while President Biden was absent and passive.
This fight was a risk, but with risk comes reward. Trump’s leadership and willingness to take risks will only grow his popularity and lead to a more optimistic future for the country. With his leadership, the country will finally have a clear direction and a leader who will explain himself and make life better for Americans.