The president-elect and the world’s wealthiest individual joined forces on Wednesday to disrupt a short-term spending agreement crafted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, designed to keep the government operational until the start of Trump's upcoming term.
The stop-gap measure includes nearly $100 billion in disaster relief, economic aid for farmers, a federal pledge to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, and a provision to criminalize revenge porn. However, the Trump-Musk intervention derailed the plan, creating a classic year-end crisis in Washington. Johnson’s hopes of retaining his position were thrown into uncertainty, offering a glimpse of the chaos that could unfold during Trump’s second term.
Adding to the turmoil, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its 10th consecutive day of losses, echoing a streak last seen during the Ford administration. These sell-offs highlighted the volatile national landscape and underscored the economic challenges Trump may face, especially after the Federal Reserve warned of rising inflation in the year ahead.
The disruption of Johnson’s funding initiative sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill. Yet, for many of Trump’s supporters and conservative media allies advocating for substantial cuts to federal programs, the chaos was the desired outcome. Even if it results in a damaging government shutdown, some view it as a step toward dismantling the government, a sentiment echoed by Trump’s pre-inaugural actions, which align with his campaign promises.
However, the situation also underscored a central issue for Trump in his second term: to pass tax cuts, implement immigration reforms, and secure a lasting legacy, he will need to find ways to govern—even if that means clashing with his base and the MAGA ideologues who are eager to burn down the existing government structure.
One of the major disruptors is Elon Musk. In his biography of the SpaceX CEO, Walter Isaacson described Musk’s approach as “Take risks. Learn by blowing things up. Revise. Repeat.” Musk embodied this philosophy on Wednesday, launching an attack on Johnson’s bill before dawn. “This bill should not pass,” Musk declared on X, following up with a 70-post tirade condemning the bill as laden with wasteful spending and warning that any lawmaker who voted for it should be voted out in 2026.
Musk rallied opposition throughout the day, inflaming MAGA media and prompting Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance to release a statement late in the afternoon demanding a streamlined spending bill without Democratic provisions. They further escalated the situation by calling for a raise in the government’s borrowing ceiling before Biden leaves office—a tall order with little time left.
It remains unclear how closely Trump and Musk coordinated, but the timing of Musk’s actions and Trump’s eventual involvement gave Democrats an opportunity to strike back. Representative Dan Goldman of New York seized the moment, tweeting a scenario aimed at undermining Trump: “As the shadow Pres-Elect, Elon Musk is now calling the shots for House Rs on government funding while Trump hides in Mar-a-Lago behind his handlers.”
Meanwhile, Missouri GOP Senator Josh Hawley, speaking to CNN, claimed Trump was caught off guard by Johnson’s move, stating that the president-elect was only just becoming aware of it.
The collapse of the stop-gap spending bill left both Johnson and Trump in precarious positions. If Johnson cannot pass a spending measure by Friday at midnight, a government shutdown is inevitable. This has placed his speakership in jeopardy, with several House Republicans signaling they will not support his re-election.
A shutdown could have far-reaching consequences, potentially harming vulnerable Americans who depend on government assistance, including seniors and veterans, and disrupting essential federal services. Trump’s power play is a gamble, risking prolonged gridlock that could extend into next year, overshadowing his upcoming inauguration.
The conflict also presents a challenge for Democrats. While they have little incentive to help Trump avoid a shutdown, they face the prospect of chaos tainting Biden’s final days in office. And after Trump demanded a spending bill stripped of Democratic priorities, it’s unlikely they will offer assistance.
Lawmakers left Capitol Hill on Wednesday with little clarity about what would happen next, casting a shadow over the first crisis of Trump’s second era. Outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell summed up the situation with a grim prediction for 2025: “Oh, this is the way it’s going to be next year.”
The magnitude of Johnson’s spending bill sparked backlash from conservative commentators, particularly over the inclusion of a pay raise for lawmakers just weeks after an election centered on inflation. Trump’s supporters question why Republicans, who won the 2024 election on a promise to drastically reduce the size of the federal government, would make their first post-victory act a traditional year-end spending spree.
“I’ve been a ‘no’ on it a long time,” said GOP Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee. “President Trump ran on changing things. I say if we’re going to pass something, pass it about three days into the next Congress and hand it over to Trump and let him handle it.”
Many Republicans remain concerned about the political fallout from a shutdown, but any new bill must reflect current realities. Since Democrats still control the Senate for a few more weeks, they must be incentivized to cooperate, and Johnson will need their support in the House due to his narrow majority and resistance from some of his own party members.
Johnson attempted to sell his bill to Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-chair of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, by explaining his “conservative play” on a text chain. His plan aimed to push spending decisions into March 2025, when Republicans would control Congress and Trump would be in the White House. But instead, Johnson’s initiative has left his leadership in peril.
Some Republicans, including Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, have voiced their opposition, suggesting that Johnson lacks the votes to secure re-election as speaker. Bryan Lanza, a former senior adviser to Trump’s campaign, also noted that Johnson’s chances hinge on Trump’s support, which remains uncertain.
The political turmoil surrounding Johnson’s bill could affect Trump’s inaugural plans, as Republicans seek a swift start to capitalize on the peak of Trump’s influence. A drawn-out speaker election, similar to the 15 rounds it took to elect Kevin McCarthy in 2023, would be a setback.
Musk, ever the disruptor, has suggested freezing Washington until Trump takes office. He proposed that no bills be passed until January 20, leading to a government shutdown that would stretch for weeks, creating a crisis for the new president and causing significant economic damage. With a diminished GOP majority, passing legislation under Trump’s presidency could prove even more difficult.
Musk’s sabotage of the Johnson stop-gap spending measure has given Democrats an early opportunity to challenge Trump’s administration. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the move, emphasizing the harm a shutdown would inflict on American citizens.
With uncertainty looming, the White House has stated that it’s up to Republicans to resolve the impasse, but there is no clear path forward, leaving Washington mired in confusion as the holiday season approaches.
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