Trump Targets Dissenting Republicans in Primary Battles

Clear Facts

• President Donald Trump aims to challenge Republican Reps. Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson in primaries due to their opposition to his tax and spending bill.
• Massie and Davidson voiced concerns about the bill’s impact on the U.S. deficit, citing it as a reason for their dissenting votes.
• The proposed legislation is expected to add $3.8 trillion to the deficit while implementing significant tax cuts and changes to Medicaid.

In a recent White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Donald Trump is considering primary challenges against two Republican congressmen. The lawmakers in question, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, voted against a major tax and spending package that Trump supports.

Leavitt emphasized that Trump is displeased with what he perceives as “grandstanders” in Congress.

“I believe [Trump] does,” she confirmed when asked if the president wants to primary these congressmen. “And I don’t think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress.”

Massie and Davidson have expressed their concerns about the bill’s potential to exacerbate the national deficit. Massie, speaking on the House floor, described the legislation as a “debt bomb ticking.” He stated that his decision to vote against the bill was based on principle, despite facing opposition from the White House.

“The big beautiful bill has issues. I chose to vote against it because it’s going to blow up our debt,” Massie explained. “For voting on principle, I now have the President AND his press Secretary campaigning against me from the White House podium.”

Davidson echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that the bill would increase the deficit rather than cut spending.

“While I love many things in the bill, promising someone else will cut spending in the future does not cut spending,” Davidson wrote in a post on social media. “Deficits do matter and this bill grows them now.”

The proposed legislation is expected to add $3.8 trillion to the deficit. It aims to implement a $3.8 trillion tax cut, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, and introduce several changes to Medicaid to reduce costs for the poor and disabled.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has warned that failing to pass the legislation would be an “ultimate betrayal.” Despite the opposition from some Republican lawmakers, the majority of the party remains aligned with Trump’s vision, as Leavitt pointed out.

“They are trusting in President Trump as they should because there’s a reason he’s sitting in this Oval Office,” she stated, underscoring Trump’s leadership within the Republican Party.

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