Trump lashes out at his party after cutting deal with Democrats

DONALD TRUMP yesterday intensified his attacks on his own party, describing the Republicans as having a “death wish” with their refusal to repeal a Senate filibuster rule, and accusing them of failing to get anything done.

The president urged his colleagues to press ahead on tax reform, and chided those within the party who were angered by his siding with the Democrats earlier this week.

“Republicans, sorry, but I’ve been hearing about Repeal & Replace for 7 years, didn’t happen!” he said, mocking their efforts to push through healthcare reform.

Last night Mr Trump signed a bill to provide $15billion (£11.4billion) in disaster aid for victims of Hurricane Harvey and, at the same time, raise the debt ceiling – after a surprise move to side with the Democrats.

The president signed the measure “providing much needed support for storm survivors,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokesman.

The House yesterday passed the bill 316-90, a day after the Senate passed it 80-17. The bill was agreed after Mr Trump met on Wednesday with the Republican and Democrat leaders of the House and Senate, and surprised many by agreeing with the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling.

Paul Ryan and Mitch Mcconnell, the Republican leaders, argued for a longterm approach to the debt ceiling, which the US was due to hit with the new fiscal year beginning Oct 1. Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat leaders argued successfully that the debt ceiling should be increased for three months, until Dec 8. Looking for a quick fix, Mr Trump agreed with them – reportedly cutting off Steve Mnuchin, his own treasury secretary.

That effectively postpones until December a potentially damaging fight over fiscal matters, including whether to fund construction of Mr Trump’s Mexican border wall.

“We had a very good meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer,” said Mr Trump on Wednesday on-board Air Force One, as he travelled to North Dakota. Mr Schumer, the Democrat leader in the Senate, was the one who claimed victory, saying: “The nation can breathe a sigh of relief.”

His and Ms Pelosi’s apparent outmanoeuvring of the Republicans prompted calls yesterday for Mr Ryan, the Republican leader of the House, to resign.

Hours before the Oval Office meeting, Mr Ryan called Democrat demands for the debt ceiling, linked to the hurricane relief package, “disgraceful”.

“I think that’s ridiculous and disgraceful that they want to play politics with the debt ceiling at this moment when we have fellow citizens in need,” he said. But Mr Trump disagreed. “We essentially came to a deal, and I think the deal will be very good,” he said.

“It’s like the Washington that Trump campaigned against,” said Joe Barton, a Republican congressman for Texas. “So, as much as I want to help Texas, I can’t vote for something that just is a blank cheque on the debt.”