Trump brings chaos to Washington again by trying to block the bipartisan budget deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump likely delivered a death blow to bipartisan budget negotiations in Congress on Wednesday, dismissing the measure as full of giveaways for Democrats and raising the risk of a government shutdown just before Christmas.

“Republicans need to get smart and tough. When Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then call their bluff,” Trump said in a joint statement with JD Vance, the vice president-elect.

It was a show of dominance from a president-elect who is still a month away from his inauguration and remains hundreds of miles away at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. It reignited a sense of chaos and political risk reminiscent of his first term.

The episode also showcased the influence of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who spent the day attacking the budget legislation as full of excessive spending. They caused a storm on social media – Musk even threatened to support primary challenges against anyone who voted for the measure – before Trump decided to speak out.

“Kill the bill!” Musk wrote on his social media platform

Trump’s allies were overjoyed by his intervention, seeing it as a fulfillment of his promise to shake up Washington. But lawmakers were also confused about how a key bipartisan agreement could collapse so quickly just days before the deadline. There are also questions about the future of Trump-backed House Speaker Mike Johnson, who pushed budget legislation and is up for re-election to his post in just weeks.