Donald Trump is yet to officially return to the White House, but his early attempts to shape policy and assert control over his party have exposed the limitations of his electoral mandate and highlighted fractures within the Republican Party.
According to the sources of Leaders team, Trump’s last-minute efforts to derail a carefully negotiated bill to fund the government until March failed to achieve his primary goal: resolving a looming debt ceiling battle before the start of his presidency. Instead, it underscored lingering divisions among House Republicans and revealed that Trump’s influence over his party is far from absolute.
In a striking turn, 38 Republicans defied Trump on Thursday. By Saturday morning, despite Trump’s threats to back primary challenges against dissenters, 170 House Republicans and numerous GOP senators voted for the bill he opposed.
This chaotic episode, occurring a month before Trump’s inauguration, foreshadowed the challenges he will face in governing with a narrow House majority and a Senate filled with members who may outlast his term.
While Trump has repeatedly claimed his November victory as a mandate for his agenda, the reality is more complex. Despite being the first Republican in decades to win the popular vote, he secured less than 50% of national support, and his Electoral College win, while significant, was not historic. Trump’s confidence in his “massive” mandate has already clashed with resistance from within his party.
Early Setbacks
Trump’s struggles have extended beyond legislation. His effort to secure a U.S. Senate seat for his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was quietly thwarted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Despite intense lobbying by Trump’s allies, including Elon Musk, DeSantis privately communicated that appointing Lara Trump would be problematic. She eventually withdrew from consideration, citing personal reflection.
Additionally, Trump abandoned his initial choice for attorney general, former Representative Matt Gaetz, due to lack of Senate support. Trump ultimately settled on former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the position.
Meanwhile, Senator Rick Scott, a Trump ally, lost his bid to lead the incoming Republican Senate majority to Senator John Thune, who has previously encouraged the GOP to move past Trump.
Cabinet Controversies
Despite these challenges, as per the sources of Leaders team, Trump has forged ahead with controversial Cabinet appointments. His pick for secretary of defense, former Fox anchor Pete Hegseth, has faced allegations of misconduct and personal concerns, but Trump has stood by him, insisting on loyalty from Republican lawmakers. Other contentious appointments include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, as secretary of health and human services, and former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
Trump’s allies, such as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have demanded unwavering support for his Cabinet picks, threatening primary challenges against dissenters.
The Road Ahead
Despite setbacks, Trump’s allies, including Elon Musk, have celebrated smaller victories, spinning the rejection of the initial government funding bill as a win. However, frustrations are building among Republicans who feel Trump is expending political capital on quixotic battles.
Representative Dan Crenshaw summed up the sentiment: “I’ll eat sh*t sandwiches — budget bills and debt ceiling increases — so Trump has a great runway, but you’ve got to plan ahead to do that.”
As Trump prepares to take office, the debt ceiling looms as an unavoidable challenge. Lawmakers, including Senator Mike Rounds, have signaled that any resolution will come at a significant political cost.
For Trump, these early skirmishes are just the beginning. Former adviser Steve Bannon warned, “If you think the last 48 hours have been unique, every day coming in when President Trump takes over is going to be like this.”
The road to governing will test Trump’s leadership and his ability to manage a party still grappling with his outsized influence and polarizing style.
