The relationship between President Donald Trump and establishment Republicans has always been fragile as glass — and Friday, Trump brought the hammer down.
In a series of tweets, the president making clear he has no qualms about bucking the GOP leader like House Speaker Paul Ryan if they’re unwilling to act.
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After seven years of frustration from Republican leadership, Trump is finally saying what Americans need — and it’s NOT more of the same.
Republicans, sorry, but I've been hearing about Repeal & Replace for 7 years, didn't happen! Even worse, the Senate Filibuster Rule will….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2017
…never allow the Republicans to pass even great legislation. 8 Dems control – will rarely get 60 (vs. 51) votes. It is a Repub Death Wish!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2017
Trump and Ryan dined at the White House Thursday night and discussed legislative challenges ahead for the fall, a get-together that was scheduled over Congress’ August recess, long before the events of this week.
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In a moment that stunned Washington, Trump cut a debt and disaster aid deal Wednesday with Congress’ Democratic leaders as Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell watched on helplessly, after lobbying unsuccessfully for much different terms — terms more favorable for their re-election chances.
The moment distilled the inherent tensions between Trump, 71, a deal-maker, and Ryan, 47, a career politician whose discomfort with Trump’s upfront and brash style led him to withhold his endorsement for weeks last year.
After Trump was elected the two papered over their differences and even developed a rapport, talking frequently during healthcare negotiations earlier this years. But their phone calls have tapered off of late and Trump has expressed his frustration with GOP leaders on multiple fronts, culminating in the president’s decision to ditch them and join hands with the Democrats instead.
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Trump moved to act in the interest of Americans, not the lobbiest — and it has left establishment politicians fuming.
Trump exulted in his newly bipartisan approach Thursday, declaring it “a great thing for our country,” while Ryan sheepishly grinned and bore it.
At the Capitol on Wednesday, Ryan had deemed a three-month debt ceiling increase as “unworkable” and “ridiculous.” Yet an hour later, Trump overruled his strong objections to side with American voters.
The president’s rebuff on the debt came just days after Trump ignored Ryan’s pleas not to end the program to aid immigrants brought to the country as children and living here illegally. Instead, Trump ended the temporary program and tossed the issue to Congress to come up with a long-term solution within six months.
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The debt deal headed for House passage Friday along with $15 billion in disaster aid and a three-month government funding extension. Friday, Trump also called for tax reform to be done quickly by Congress —
Republicans must start the Tax Reform/Tax Cut legislation ASAP. Don't wait until the end of September. Needed now more than ever. Hurry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2017
Trump remains highly popular in the conservative districts occupied by many House Republicans, much more so than Ryan himself, who is scorned by many in the GOP base as an establishment sell-out.
Iowa Rep. Steve King, a Republican, said the message in his conservative district is that “congressional Republicans need to get behind the president.”
That sentiment “makes him weaker,” King said of Ryan.
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Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona described Ryan as “very unpopular” in his district, while regard for Trump is “pretty high.”
As far as his constituents are concerned, Gosar said, they’d be happy if Ryan got the boot and Trump stayed. “That’s kind of the mantra in my district,” he said.
This isn’t new, of course. Trump has soured on the Republican congressional leadership in recent months, fuming on their lack of healthcare strategy, among other complaints.
Now, he’s taking the initiative to act — and to get things done for once.
The Associated Press contributed to this article