President Trump urged House Republican lawmakers opposed to a Senate-passed budget resolution on Tuesday to support the measure – telling them to “close your eyes and there.”
Trump, in a speech at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual dinner, warned that it would be a “disaster” for Republicans and the country if the “one big, beautiful bill” critical to enacting his economic agenda doesn’t make it out of the lower chamber.
“They have to get there,” the president said of the GOP holdouts.
“And I think we are there. We had a great meeting today. I think we are there.
“But just in case there are a couple of Republicans not there – you just gotta get there, close your eyes and get there!” Trump demanded.
“It is a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding.”
At least 10 House Republicans have indicated they won’t support the budget framework and a handful of others have publicly criticized the resolution, according to The Hill.
Hard-line conservatives have expressed concern that the Senate version of the bill directs lawmakers to make only $4 billion in spending cuts, while the House seeks at least $1.5 trillion in reductions.
Some House Republicans have also slammed the Senate for assuming that the extension of tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term will not add to the federal deficit.
Trump dismissed Republicans holding out for a “little bit more” in spending cuts, arguing that if they wait to pass a bill, “You end up getting nothing.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), at the same event, described the Senate bill as “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation that Congress has passed in decades – and perhaps in the history of the Congress.”
The bill is considered crucial to quickly passing legislation related to several key Trump campaign promises, including extending the 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tipped wages.
In his remarks, Johnson noted that the new seven-seat GOP majority in the House “means that we can lose three votes now and still pass a bill.”
“It’s an embarrassment of riches,” the House speaker joked.
“I tell you, this job is so easy.”
Trump, 78, argued that his recently announced tariff policy would put pressure on Republicans to vote for the bill.
“I have to say, it’s going to be legendary,” he said of the reciprocal tariffs that go into effect against some 90 countries after midnight.
“But I really think it actually puts pressure on those few Republicans that just can’t get there.”
On the controversial policy, Trump declared that the US is “making a fortune with tariffs – $2 billion a day.”
“Only the enemy can be talking this way,” the president said of people opposed to his tariff plan.
“Many countries have ripped us off left and right. But now it’s our turn to do the ripping,” Trump continued.
Ahead of Trump’s remarks, it was announced that the NRCC, the fundraising arm of House Republicans, had raised $35 million for GOP campaigns during the evening.
The president boasted that the GOP fundraising bonanza, along with Democrats’ “bad policy,” has set the stage for a “monumental victory for Republicans in the midterms.”
“We’re going to win the midterm elections in a tremendous, thunderous landslide,” Trump declared.
“We got to win. There is no way [the Democrats] should be winning based on policy,” he continued.
“Democrats have gone crazy.”
