Trump Reiterates Deadline for Tax and Immigration Bill Amid Senate Uncertainty
Trump demands Congress pass a tax and immigration bill by July 4 despite Senate hurdles. Meanwhile, work requirements for welfare cuts are being promoted by the GOP. A special election has been called in Virginia to replace Rep. Connolly. Trump remains focused on legislative pressures while increasing his online presence.
President Donald Trump reiterated his demand on social media Monday night for Congress to pass a substantial tax and immigration bill by July 4. This legislative package, which has narrowly cleared the House, now faces hurdles in the Senate due to hesitancy among several Republican senators. Trump has ramped up his efforts to persuade these GOP holdouts, although he has no public engagements on Tuesday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to speak with reporters later in the afternoon.
In a related effort, the administration and Republican lawmakers are pushing for work requirements aimed at reducing welfare expenditure. This marks an extension of GOP rhetoric around welfare fraud, targeting those who receive government assistance and is intended to foster the party’s narrative regarding budget maximization.
Amidst this, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has called a special election for Sept. 9 to fill the vacated seat of late Rep. Gerry Connolly, who passed away last month. The Northern Virginia district is predominantly Democratic, and Connolly endorsed his former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, as his successor before his death.
Interestingly, despite the pressing legislative agenda, Trump again has no scheduled public events, a second consecutive day without appearances, while shifting focus to advancing his legislative interests in the Senate. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri mentioned that they discussed Medicaid concerns earlier, which led Trump to portray the pending tax bill as a significant opportunity on social media.
On the digital front, Trump has been remarkably active since assuming office, posting an astounding 2,262 times on Truth Social over 132 days – far exceeding his tweeting frequency during the same timeframe of his prior presidency. This surge in online engagement has caught many aides off guard, illustrating Trump’s eagerness to maintain a robust presence.
In another matter, Trump announced significant penalties for California following a transgender athlete’s recent victories at a high school championship, reiterating his administration’s stance against trans athletes in women’s sports. Although Governor Newsom did not intervene to exclude the athlete, the California Interscholastic Association has introduced measures permitting additional competitors for events in which that athlete qualified.
Finally, in a public display, the White House released a new presidential portrait on Monday featuring a serious-looking Trump against a dark background, reminiscent of his well-known mugshot from two years ago, symbolizing a stark contrast to his previous more jovial expressions.
Original Source: www.washingtonpost.com
