U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the media while walking with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
President Donald Trump enraged some Republicans on Wednesday when a bill-signing ceremony turned into what one lawmaker thought was another vanity show.
“What a s--- show. ... Crazy crazy crazy,” a Republican House member said, on the condition of anonymity when speaking to NBC News. “A once in a generation housing bill falls victim to the nuts.”
The bill that Trump was set to sign was a bipartisan effort to deliver more affordable housing to Americans by incentivizing builders and easing financing for buyers.
Housing costs have increased significantly over the past year after Trump's trade war. Building products like lumber have high tariffs, increasing home costs, the National Builder's Association explained. Appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and microwaves also come largely from overseas, and parts to fix or replace them can also come from abroad, one company said.
Another House Republican who is in what is largely seen as a "safe" district where Trump won handily in 2024 still claimed that they could be at risk.
"I’m not that safe. No incumbent is safe,” the anonymous lawmaker said. “People are p—— off that we are not taking care of business.”
Another Republican, however, was less surprised by Trump's antics, telling NBC News, “Trump did something outrageous to keep the spotlight focused on him. Shocker.”
Trump announced his plan to cancel the bill signing on Truth Social hours before he arrived on Capitol Hill. House Republicans were in the middle of a press conference celebrating the bipartisan legislation when Trump posted it.
“This bill does that, so I’m proud of the work that both chambers have struggled through,” Hill said Wednesday morning. “But it’s successful today, and I’m proud of the work of the House and Senate to get people to ‘yes’.”
They weren't aware of Trump move until the press began asking questions about it.