Staff Reports
In a display of leadership reminiscent of his first time in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump wasted no time in reasserting his dominance over the GOP upon taking office for a second term. The first order of business? A closed-door confab with key Republican leaders. The meeting, which included Vice President J.D. Vance and others, has been characterized as both a raucous pep rally and a serious strategy session aimed at rolling out Trump’s ambitious MAGA agenda. It seems the party is ready to, once again, put the pedal to the metal in America’s makeover.
The atmosphere must have been electric, especially after Trump signed a veritable mountain of executive orders designed to undo the many tolls left behind by his predecessor, Joe Biden. This move set the stage for what was likely a celebratory tone at the meeting, with Trump firmly laying out how Congress can help him navigate the political minefield that lies ahead. If tearing down Biden’s legacy is anything like building up the Trump presidency, then this session was probably half victory lap and half planning session.
Trump visited with Senate Republicans today at the Capitol to discuss Trump’s legislative priorities, most notably border security and tax cuts.
Just appreciate the difference between this and Joe Biden.
Feels good to have a functioning President again.pic.twitter.com/Nm8oIwg7AR
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) January 8, 2025
While precise details of the tête-à-tête remained largely under wraps—probably for strategic reasons—a few juicy nuggets made their way to the press. Reports indicated that House GOP Policy Committee Chair Kevin Hern felt the meeting was more of a motivational speech, perhaps refreshing after an avalanche of executive actions. Senator James Lankford, on social media, hinted at big things ahead, sharing how Trump was distributing challenge coins as if to say, “Game on, folks!” If only those coins could do something about the current economic climate—now that would be a true magician’s trick.
Among the hot topics discussed was Trump’s interest in expediting the confirmation of his upcoming nominees. One particularly fascinating point was his intention to cut taxes on tips, a move sure to resonate with workers depending on gratuities. However, the details on how to pull off this promise were as elusive as the Democrats’ sense of fiscal responsibility. It was clear, though, that Trump meant business and may not shy away from using ‘recess appointments’ if Congress doesn’t play ball. This is a delightful reminder of how the GOP can still try a little old-fashioned intimidation to get things done.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed that while Trump would prefer to avoid recess appointments, some of his nominees are facing roadblocks thanks to Senate Democrats. The filibuster is alive and well, especially for key positions like CIA Director, DHS Secretary, and Defense Secretary. Thune’s pledge to stick around D.C. as long as necessary makes it clear that the fight for these appointments isn’t going to be a quick race to the finish. The countdown begins to see if Democrats will resort to their usual bag of dirty tricks, or if they might actually face the consequences of obstructing a popular president’s agenda.
