Donald Trump, the president-elect, shared strong opinions on Sunday about the debt ceiling deal and former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While he started by calling McCarthy a “good man” and a “friend,” Trump didn’t hold back from criticizing the decisions McCarthy made while in office. He described McCarthy’s deal on the debt ceiling as “one of the dumbest political moves in years.”
Trump explained that the agreement, which extended the debt ceiling until June 2025, offered no real benefits to the Republican Party. He wrote, “NOTHING WAS GAINED, and we got nothing out of it.” Trump added that this deal shifted responsibility for the debt problem from the Biden administration to Republicans. “It was Biden’s problem, not ours. Now it becomes ours,” he said.
Trump also claimed that Democrats would rather see the country enter a severe economic downturn, such as a depression, if it would hurt the Republican Party. He insisted that Republicans should force Democrats to take action on the issue now, before Biden leaves office. “They should be blamed for this potential disaster, not the Republicans!” he wrote.
This isn’t the first time Trump has voiced his frustration with the 2023 budget deal. The deal, negotiated by McCarthy and President Joe Biden, has been a major source of division among Republicans. Many in the party believe the agreement weakened their position and ultimately led to McCarthy losing his leadership role as Speaker of the House.
Trump has made it clear he disagreed with the decision to extend the debt ceiling, saying there was no reason for Republicans to give in on the issue. He believes it was a missed opportunity to hold Democrats accountable and that it has now become a Republican problem to solve.
Earlier this month, Trump told NBC News he supports the idea of completely getting rid of the debt ceiling to avoid these types of political battles in the future. However, his latest comments reflect a broader frustration within the Republican Party, as many members struggle to agree on how to handle the nation’s financial challenges.
Trump’s criticism highlights ongoing tensions in the GOP as they work to rebuild unity and establish a clear strategy for the future. The debate over the debt ceiling and McCarthy’s leadership continues to be a major topic of discussion among Republicans, signaling deeper issues within the party.
