President Trump demanded that House conservatives get on board with his legislative agenda after a number of conservatives dug in on their opposition to the spending bill on Tuesday.
“They have to do this. We have to get there. I think we are there. We had a great meeting today,” Trump said in an address to the National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner in Washington.
“But just in case there are a couple of Republicans out there. You just gotta get there. Close your eyes and get there. It’s a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding. Just stop grandstanding,” he continued, airing his frustration.
The comments follow a meeting between Trump and a handful of House Republicans earlier Tuesday. Florida Reps. Greg Steube (R) and Byron Donalds (R) touted their support for the legislation following the meeting, but there were still several Republican holdouts, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.).
The division among House Republicans is over the resolution directing the House and the Senate to find a different minimum of spending cuts. House committees are mandated to find at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, while Senate panels have to find at least $4 billion in cuts.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pushing for a vote on the resolution this week before the House leaves for a two-week recess. Johnson can only afford to lose three votes in the expected scenario Democrats are united against it.
A source familiar said NRCC raised $35.2 million ahead of Trump’s comments at the House Republican campaign arm’s fundraising dinner.
“We won’t just keep our majorities, we’ll expand our majorities by a lot,” Trump said.