Trump in for rude awakening as some Republicans less than enthusiastic about his agenda: report

When President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday, January 20, Republicans had small majorities in both branches of Congress. And the GOP's 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate can narrowly get Trump's nominees confirmed even without any Democratic votes: former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was confirmed as defense secretary despite a lack of Democratic support and defections from GOP Senators Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell and Lisa Murkowski.

For Trump, the key to getting his legislative agenda passed will be making sure that Republicans in Congress stick together when bills come up for a vote. But in an article published on January 27, New York Times reporters Catie Edmondson and Andrew Duehren examine the "chasm" between Trump and a "closely divided Congress."

"Even as Republicans have coalesced around broad fiscal policies like cutting spending and extending the tax cuts Mr. Trump enacted in 2017," Edmondson and Duehren explain, "many do not share his enthusiasm for several ideas he has proposed, including implementing broad tariffs and lowering the corporate tax rate. Those disagreements are at the heart of Republican leaders' efforts to piece together legislation carrying the bulk of Mr. Trump's domestic policy agenda — a massive bill cutting taxes, slashing spending and slowing immigration that they plan to fast-track over the objections of Democrats…. The president — who is famously vindictive and can count on a contingent of MAGA allies ready to hector and threaten any Republican who stands in his way — is likely to demand unbending loyalty from his party when it comes to domestic policy."

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The Times reporters cite Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Kentucky) opposition to tariffs as an example of a policy disagreement between Trump and a prominent GOP lawmaker.

Paul told the Times, "I still don't think tariffs are a good idea. International trade has made the entire world incredibly prosperous, and if you look at GDP per capita over the last 70 years, it's a hockey stick going straight up. I think trade is a good thing, and international trade is a great thing, and it makes everybody richer."

But Trump, according to Edmondson and Duehren, is "likely to move ahead with sweeping tariffs" despite opposition from Paul and other Republicans.

The reporters note, "Much of the rest of his campaign agenda — like making interest payments on car loans tax deductible — will require nearly unanimous support from his party in Congress."

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Read the New York Times' full article at this link (subscription required).