Trump: It doesn't matter whether Republicans use one or two laws

Trump: It doesn't matter whether Republicans use one or two laws

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump stressed in a meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday that he wants to implement his agenda as quickly as possible, while downplaying disagreements among Republican leaders at the Capitol over specific policies.

Trump's plans for US politics

During the nearly two-hour meeting, Trump discussed a variety of topics, including closing the border, the need to raise the debt ceiling, the desire to balance the budget and the imposition of tariffs as a possible means of financing his plans. On one occasion, Trump and Republican senators joked about considering Canada a 51st federal state.

Disagreements and legislative strategy

Trump acknowledged to reporters that there is a rift between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune over how to advance his proposals to extend tax cuts, border security and energy policy reforms, and the debt ceiling. However, he said he wanted to leave the decision to Congress leaders.

"Whether it's one law or two laws, it doesn't matter to me. They'll sort it out. But the end result will be the same," Trump said.

Political dynamics in Washington

Trump is in Washington to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, whom he criticized during a wide-ranging news conference on Tuesday. After paying respects to the late Democrat in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday night, he met with Republican senators - just five days after newly elected lawmakers were sworn in and the party took control of the chamber, giving him dominance of power in Washington.

Republican senators said he answered questions from them in their meeting. “Everything has been asked,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. “Foreign policy to everything else.” Senator Eric Schmitt added: “Everyone here has the same goal, which is to win big on the issues he ran on.”

Budget negotiations and political strategy

Although many Republican senators supported splitting Trump's agenda into two pieces of legislation - starting with a package on the border, national security and energy - the president-elect appeared open to a single package if it was easier for the House to pass.

“No decisions have been made,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said of the strategy. “He heard from us and our leader that the strategy for a second law is very lively here.” Minutes after Trump's statements to reporters, Thune reiterated that his conference stands firmly behind the president and that strategic discussions are still ongoing.

Strengthening Trump's expansionism

Republicans' willingness to support the president-elect was evident early in the day when several of his allies defended his statements that the United States should take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, as well as the Panama Canal and consider Canada to be the 51st federal state.

Trump did not back down from his expansionist proposals on Wednesday evening, leaving it open whether he would consider military action to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal. When asked by CNN whether he would send military troops to acquire Greenland or the Panama Canal, he replied that his son, Donald Trump Jr., was greeted with applause during a visit to the Danish territory.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall previously stated: “I certainly see Greenland as an opportunity, a great national security boost.” North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer said he didn't think Trump was joking about his expansion ideas.

Mixed reactions in the House of Representatives

Reactions from Republican lawmakers were mixed on Wednesday. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said, "They are our allies; we should treat them as such." Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina said he "needs to talk to the president about his idea," adding, "I'm not going to pass judgment on the logic yet."

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.