Trump used charm, autographs to seal budget bill deal: ‘He told me he likes seeing me on TV’
President Donald Trump wooed Republican holdouts on his “Big Beautiful Bill” through flattery and signing merchandise.
“A conga line of angsty Republican lawmakers filed through the West Wing on Wednesday, hemming and hawing about the big domestic policy bill that President Trump wants them to pass by Friday,” The New York Times reported.
“They walked out with signed merchandise, photos in the Oval Office and, by some accounts, a newfound appreciation for the bill — targets all of a blunt-force charm offensive waged with precision by the president.”
After passing the Senate on Wednesday, the massive budget bill faces resistance in the House among moderate Republicans and some members of the Freedom Caucus, who campaigned on reining in government spending.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., was among those on the fence on the bill.
On Wednesday, the GOP lawmaker gave his followers on X a peek on the president’s successful attempt at persuasion.
“The president was wonderful, as always. Informative, funny. He told me he likes seeing me on TV, which is kinda cool,” Burchett said in a video posted to his X account.
“The president answered all our questions, was very informative. It was a very good day,” Burchett continued. “We’ll hopefully get this worked out and do some great things for this country.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was also in a meeting with Trump attended by Burchett and other House Freedom Caucus holdouts, then got into the frame of Burchett’s video.
“Show them what he signed for you,” Donalds told Burchett.
“Yeah, he signed a bunch of stuff,” the Tennessee lawmaker said. “It’s cool.”
Burchett did not hold up any of the merch.
“Mr. Burchett told The New York Times later on that his name had been misspelled on the placard placed in front of his chair for the Cabinet Room meeting (it was missing an “r”) so the president scribbled in the letter, signed both sides of the card and gave it to him as a souvenir,” the Times reported.
The Tennessee lawmaker told the paper that Trump “loaded up” souvenirs for a son of another House Republican holdout, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas.
The House now appears to have enough votes to get the “Big Beautiful Bill” through Congress.
After staying up all night to persuade skeptical holdouts, House Republicans were ready to vote on President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill early Thursday, the Associated Press reported.
But as final debates began in the predawn hours, Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries took to the floor and has held it for over six hours, holding up the legislation and speaking out against the bill and the GOP’s deference to Trump.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.