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President-elect Donald Trump has reinforced his support for eliminating or significantly extending the debt ceiling as Congress races to prevent a government shutdown.
In a Dec. 20 post on Truth Social, Trump called on lawmakers to raise the debt ceiling through 2029. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump wrote. “Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.”
Congress faces a Dec. 20, 11:59 p.m. ET deadline to avoid a shutdown, and Trump suggested any shutdown would be preferable under the current administration. “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP,’” he added. “This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!”
Trump has also floated a potential alliance with Democrats to eliminate the debt ceiling entirely. “The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it,” he said in a Dec. 19 interview with NBC News. “If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge.” He further warned that any Republicans supporting a deal without increasing the debt ceiling should expect primary challenges in the 2026 elections.
Former National Economic Council Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti urged Democrats to take advantage of this moment to abolish the debt ceiling altogether, saying it has long been used as leverage by Republicans. “Its only purpose is for the GOP to threaten the global economy to extract concessions from Democrats,” Ramamurti posted on X. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) agreed, opposing a short-term suspension and stating, “A two-year increase in the debt limit to grease the wheels for Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ tax handouts for billionaires is a terrible deal.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) dismissed Trump’s proposal, warning, “GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check.”
Showdown in Congress
On Dec. 19, a Trump-endorsed plan proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to prevent a shutdown and suspend the debt ceiling for two years was defeated. Democrats and 38 Republicans rejected the bill, citing concerns over long-term fiscal responsibility. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) expressed his frustrations, stating on the House floor, “You never have any ounce of self-respect. Go out and campaign, say you’re gonna balance the budget, and then you come in here, pass $110 billion unpaid for.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) similarly voiced opposition, writing on X, “No more $100 billion unpaid supplementals (or any other amount). The era of reckless borrowing and spending must be over.”
However, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) backed Trump’s stance. “President Trump is absolutely right. We must raise the debt limit and get this deal done,” he wrote.
The Debt Ceiling Debate
The debt ceiling represents the federal government’s borrowing cap to meet obligations such as Social Security, Medicare, and interest on the national debt. While historically used as a form of fiscal control, it has increasingly become a tool for political standoffs. In May 2023, President Biden and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to suspend the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025.
Though Treasury has contingency measures to prevent immediate financial crises, including tapping into reserves and pausing federal reinvestments, the urgency for legislative action intensifies as the government approaches default deadlines.
As discussions continue, Trump’s proposal represents a significant shift in the long-running debate over the U.S. debt ceiling and its role in fiscal policymaking.
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