House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a crucial vote on the Senate Republicans' budget blueprint after facing strong opposition from a group of House GOP conservatives who demanded significant spending cuts. These conservatives, despite pressure from President Trump, refused to budge on their demands.
Several Republican representatives, including Rep. Andy Ogles and Rep. Lloyd Smucker, openly voiced their concerns and warned Speaker Johnson that the budget plan, as it stood, lacked the necessary support to pass. They pushed for amendments that would include binding language for more substantial spending reductions.
President Trump actively tried to salvage the situation, even amidst his own political challenges. He held meetings and made phone calls to House Republicans, urging them to back the measure. His administration also deployed key figures like his deputy treasury secretary and Stephen Miller to lobby for the plan.
The Senate, however, showed little willingness to compromise on its proposed budget, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune defending the plan's limited commitment to spending cuts. This resistance further fueled the tensions within the Republican party.
Despite the postponement, Johnson remains optimistic, suggesting that ongoing negotiations are aiming to find a compromise to secure enough votes to pass the measure before the House's two-week recess. The success of these negotiations hinges on bridging the gap between the demands of the House conservatives and the Senate’s resistance to deeper spending cuts.