In a recent editorial, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board shifted the blame for the House budget mess onto Donald Trump, instead of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Despite Johnson being undercut at every step, it seems the real trouble came from the president-elect himself.
The editorial didn’t hold back, kicking off with a bold statement: Trump’s decision to rely on billionaire Elon Musk as his advisor could spell trouble for how he’ll govern the country once he takes office in January. The editors warned, “This is not looking good for 2025 and the Republicans’ ability to govern.”
The immediate fallout, according to the Journal, was nothing short of a fiasco. Trump and Musk launched a social media attack on Johnson’s plan to fund the government through March, which only added to the chaos.
The editors took a jab at Trump’s frustration with the “President Musk” jokes floating around, adding that Musk’s lack of understanding of how Congress works is concerning. They pointed out that, despite Musk being a tech genius, he doesn’t seem to grasp the basics of getting things done in Congress, like knowing the number of votes needed for a majority.
“Trump may be a whiz in business, but Congress is a different animal,” they wrote. In 2017, Republicans had a strong majority, with experienced leaders like Paul Ryan and Kevin Brady at the helm. Fast forward to today, and the GOP’s House majority is much smaller and more divided. The editors warned that pushing members around might not work for long.
Ending on a cautionary note, the editorial reminded Trump that come January, the hard reality of governing will set in. And it won’t be easy.
