WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance released a statement Thursday lambasting Congressional Republicans for allowing the United States to hit its debt ceiling in 2025 and urging swift action to address the issue before their administration takes office in January.
In the statement, Trump and Vance called the decision to allow the debt ceiling crisis to approach under Republican leadership “the most foolish and inept thing ever done by Congressional Republicans,” while criticizing current efforts to pass a year-end spending bill. They accused Democrats of inserting “sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney” and of seeking to obscure records related to the January 6 committee, which they claimed “accomplished nothing for the American people.”
The incoming administration called for a “streamlined spending bill” that avoids concessions to Democrats and includes a short-term increase to the debt ceiling. “Increasing the debt ceiling is not great,” the statement read, “but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch.” They argued that negotiating a debt ceiling increase under the Biden administration would ensure smoother operations when they assume office and avoid prolonged financial uncertainty in 2025.
Trump and Vance emphasized their priorities for the spending bill, urging support for farmers, funding for disaster relief, and preparations for their incoming administration. They rejected what they called “Democrat giveaways” and framed cooperation on a limited spending bill and debt ceiling increase as essential to protecting the country’s future stability.
The statement comes as Congress works to finalize government funding and avoid a potential shutdown, setting the stage for a political showdown over fiscal policy heading into the new year.
Although Trump and U.S. Senator Liz Warren, who he has dubbed, ‘Pocahontas’, have not been on the same page when it comes to politics, Warren agreed with the President.
“I agree with President-elect Trump that Congress should terminate the debt limit and never again govern by hostage taking,” Warren posted on X, owned by Elon Musk.
The president-elect’s stance reflects a sharp rebuke of both current Democratic leadership and some Congressional Republicans ahead of his administration’s planned economic agenda.