Speaker Mike Johnson told Republicans on Saturday that President-elect Donald Trump wants one reconciliation package, instead of the planned two that Republican leadership has been pushing, three people in the room told POLITICO.
Johnson’s message came as Republicans are meeting behind closed doors at Fort McNair to map out their strategy for passing a sweeping border, tax and energy package that will be the heart of their legislative agenda. Trump wants “one big beautiful bill,” Johnson told Republicans at the retreat, per two lawmakers.
Trump’s decision is a break from Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s pitch for a two-bill strategy that would have seen Republicans pass a border and energy bill first followed by a tax bill. Johnson had also previously indicated there would be two bills — though that was viewed as more of a deference to Trump’s perceived preference and a way to notch quick wins for his agenda. Thune stopped by the House GOP retreat on Saturday, a person familiar confirmed to POLITICO.
Trump’s decision is a win for House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) who has pushed for Republicans to pass one bill instead of two.
Smith, who is pushing the one-package approach, is one of the lawmakers presenting plans to rank-and-file GOP members through a series of panels Saturday. Smith stayed behind after New Year’s Eve celebrations at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago for meetings on reconciliation, according to two Republicans.
