What’s New
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has stated that she believes President-elect Donald Trump is “exactly right” in his push to remove the federal debt ceiling.
“When Donald Trump says, ‘Just get rid of [the debt ceiling], it is not good for our country,’ I think he is exactly right,” Warren said during a Thursday interview on CNN’s The Source With Kaitlan Collins.
On Thursday night, Newsweek emailed Trump’s office to request a comment.
Why It Matters
The debt ceiling, which is a statutory limit on how much the federal government can borrow, is a hotly debated issue in American politics, with conservatives traditionally opposed to raising or eliminating it.
Warren’s public statement in agreement with Trump on Thursday was unusual, given that the senior senator is known for being progressive and ideologically opposed to the president-elect.
What To Know
Trump told NBC News on Thursday that Congress voting to eliminate the debt ceiling would be the “smartest thing,” implying that the borrowing limit is “meaningless” and that he would be willing to work with Democrats to eliminate it.
“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it,” Trump told reporters. “If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge.”
Hours later, a Trump-backed temporary funding bill to prevent a government shutdown while also suspending the debt ceiling for two years failed when more than three dozen Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it.
“I want to see us get rid of the debt ceiling,” Warren stated during a CNN appearance on Thursday. “I have wanted it for years. Because, year after year, the Republicans have used the debt ceiling to stymie our economy, our nation, and our international reputation.”
“When Donald Trump says, ‘let us just make a deal and get rid of it altogether,’ I hear him on that,” the senator said.
Earlier in the day, Warren expressed her support for Trump in the following post on X, formerly Twitter: “I agree with President-elect Trump that Congress should terminate the debt limit and never again govern by hostage taking.”
What People Are Saying
Republican Congressman Chip Roy responded to Trump’s debt ceiling stance in a post to X: “My position is simple: I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) unless significant and real spending cuts are attached. I have been negotiating towards that end. “No apologies.”
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy on X: “Ha! Trump wants to raise the debt ceiling for one and only one reason: to borrow s***loads of money to fund his new massive tax break for billionaires and corporations. In other words, burden ordinary Americans with mountains of debt so that the wealthy can grow richer.”
What Happens Next
Trump continues to wield significant power in the Republican Party, and many Democrats may support a push to eliminate the debt limit. However, conservative opposition may make it difficult to eliminate the ceiling.
While Republicans will control both houses of Congress next month, GOP leaders who support the limit could easily postpone or kill any attempt to repeal it.