Summary
The December 2024 government shutdown standoff highlighted the limits of Trump’s influence over congressional Republicans.
Trump derailed a bipartisan funding bill but failed to rally support for a replacement plan tying spending to a debt limit increase.
The House rejected his proposal, forcing Republicans to compromise with Democrats on a stripped-down funding bill.
The temporary deal avoids a shutdown but sets up future clashes over spending cuts and debt limits.
The episode revealed Trump’s inability to unify his party and emphasized the fragility of the Republican House majority.
Trump has ONE tactic:
Propose something crazy, after the backlash, compromise on what he wanted in the first place.
Democrats and Republicans hashed out a compromise bill. Trump proposes removing all the stuff Democrats want AND removing the debt ceiling. Backlash! They remove the debt ceiling language and pass the bill with ONLY the stuff Democrats wanted removed. Trump gets want he wanted.
All the press have a field day with stories like “Republicans defy Trump! Trump negotiation power limited!”
HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED! How is that a loss?
His tactic is not dissimilar to Putin’s peace proposal tactics in Ukraine. Wonder why?