Republican Senator Vows to Vote Against Key Donald Trump Demand

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Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said on Sunday during a Fox News appearance that he will vote against President-elect Donald Trump's key plan to eliminate the federal debt ceiling.

Newsweek has reached out to Johnson's office and Trump's transition team via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The debt ceiling, a recurring feature in federal budgeting, has been a flashpoint for fiscal debates, with Congress often forced to raise or suspend the limit to avoid defaulting on national debt obligations. In December, Trump called to eliminate the debt ceiling, a move that challenges long-standing fiscal norms and aligns with recent Democratic proposals to eliminate the borrowing cap altogether.

However, as Republicans only have a razor-thin majority in the House and Senate, any dissent could cause problems for Trump's agenda as he gears up to take office later this month.

What To Know

In a Sunday Fox News interview on Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo, host Maria Bartiromo asked Johnson, a Trump ally, if he would vote for the president-elect's plan to eliminate or raise the debt limit as part of a larger bill that would include funding border security, a key issue in which Trump has promised to address when he returns to office.

Johnson responded: "No, we absolutely need a debt ceiling limit. I'll negotiate in terms of how far we increase that. There are all kinds of things we could do, but it starts with, again, going back to a baseline spending this reasonable amount as part of the negotiation on increasing debt limit. But we absolutely need that debt limit, or there's no control over out-of-control government spending."

The House voted in late December against the Trump-endorsed spending package by 235-174, with 38 Republican joining Democrats. The plan would have averted a partial U.S. government shutdown that could have begun before the holidays and would have suspended the U.S. debt ceiling by two years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, was then left scrambling to secure a bipartisan spending plan that satisfied both hardline conservatives and Democrats.

Adding to the turmoil, Trump's ally Elon Musk amplified opposition to the proposed bipartisan agreement, criticizing it for including unrelated spending measures. Musk, who reportedly coordinated with Trump on messaging, posted on X, formerly Twitter, "This should not pass," urging lawmakers to reject the plan.

However, a continuing resolution (CR) bill that prevented a government shutdown and did not include Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling has since passed through the House.

What People Are Saying

President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News on December 19, "The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge." He added that the debt ceiling is "psychological" in nature and described its impact as "a catastrophe or meaningless."

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, on X: "I agree with President-elect Trump that Congress should terminate the debt limit and never again govern by hostage taking."

Senator Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, wrote on X: "So we're clear: Elon Musk & Donald Trump want to raise the debt ceiling to afford their tax cut for billionaires. What they're saying is, if Republicans don't pave the way now for their tax cut for the rich, then our troops don't get paid for Christmas."

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X in late December, "We are either fiscally conservative or not. An unlimited increase in the debt ceiling for two years is not fiscally conservative and should be rejected."

Brian Riedl, an economist at the Manhattan Institute think tank, wrote in a June report, "For four Biden years, GOP lawmakers railed against deficits and especially debt limit hikes. Then Trump wins, and GOP passes $310 billion in spending hikes with no pay-fors, and most vote to suspend the debt limit so Trump can add unlimited debt. The open hypocrisy is comical."