How Trump is turning Republicans his rivals in US Congress

After winning the 2024 US presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump is pulling every string possible to have a strong influence in the US Congress. Some of his recent moves indicated that the Republican firebrand is intending to bend the GOP-led Congress to his will. One of the major reasons why Trump is looking for greater influence in both chambers is because he wants the lawmakers to accept his Cabinet picks along with his federal spending.

Round one of the tussle between Congress and Trump was won by the Republican lawmakers after some senators from the party suggested that Matt Gaetz should withdraw his consideration for the post of US Attorney General as he struggles with a plethora of scandals.

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“The Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent — and in this particular case, I think there was advice offered, rather than consent,” Sen. Mike Rounds said shortly after Gaetz announced his withdrawal. However, the interesting aspect of this tussle was the fact that the GOP senators pushed back against Trump’s pick privately and not publicly.

Confirmation of appointments and federal spending at the heart of it all

Many believe that Gaetz would not be the last example to test the tussle between Trump and the legislative wing of the government. Even incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune has a slew of problems over Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominees — including sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, whom Trump tapped to lead the Department of Defense.

Another issue that Trump might face with Congress is getting approval for federal spending. While US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has been a close ally of Trump, he has been in limbo as he defers to the President-elect on his preferences for a funding deal.

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Some Republican lawmakers maintained they would go by the authority enshrined in the US Constitution in regard to determining federal spending. “I think we should defend Article One. We’re an equal branch of government. I support probably 80 per cent or 90 per cent of the policies, but it’s going to be in the Article One vs. Article Two framework,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said about the relationship between Trump and Hill Republicans.

However, Trump’s anticipated return to the White House is much different than his stint in 2017. This time Republicans have sway in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Not only this, even the US Supreme Court has a conservative majority. Over the years, Trump has also managed to fill Congress with his allies.

“There will be no daylight between us and President Trump on policy, and moving forward with foreign policy, funding or anything else,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a close Trump ally, told reporters in the Capitol recently. “You just have a very Trump House, because most people that came in came in with him at the top of the ticket,” another GOP lawmaker told Politico on the condition of anonymity.

While Trump loyalists will push his agenda in both chambers, there are plenty of Republicans who disagree with some of Trump’s plans on immigration and tariffs and would like to keep the two branches of government separated.