Donald Trump employed a strongman’s strong-arm tactic on Thursday when he beckoned House Republicans to the White House, shut them in a room, and said: “Sit here until you figure it out.”
After nearly five hours of shouting at each other over how to legislate the president’s campaign promises, they emerged.
But not exactly on the same page.
House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain described the tenor in the room as “medium heat”—just high enough to make the most progress yet, she said, on their myriad disagreements.
“I can honestly say it was one of the best meetings that I’ve been in,” McClain said, describing the confab as “very different from the listening sessions” that House Speaker Mike Johnson has held with the warring GOP factions he struggles to control.
“The listening sessions were good,” she said, “but now it’s clear today was clearly the day —let’s get it done.”
Others who were stuck in the room—whose majority is so slim they require almost complete unanimity—disagreed with McClain’s upbeat assessment.
“I’ve had better discussions at eighth grade healthcare class,” one lawmaker who requested anonymity to speak freely said, adding they were frustrated with certain members pushing for aggressive cuts that could potentially trigger “the biggest tax increase in history.”
The lawmaker said members were “shouting over each other” as they attempted to hammer out a plan. Still, they emerged with a clearer picture of how to proceed to produce legislation to both please the president and have a record Republicans can run on if they have any chance of holding onto their majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump was in and out of the meeting during the marathon slugfest after laying out his red lines at the start, which included no taxes on tips, addressing the state and local tax deduction, and border control enhancements.
Trump “laid out some of the things he wanted then told lawmakers he had other meetings,” a source familiar with the endless session revealed.
His directive was simple: “You guys sit here until you figure it out, and then come in the Oval Office.”
What followed was roughly five hours of Republicans gathered around a white board attempting to find consensus on tax cuts and spending—with mixed reviews over the level of progress made.
Some conservatives have pushed for a two-bill strategy and cuts moderates feel are unrealistic, but sources in the meeting said they are currently aiming to move forward with one sweeping bill.
“It’s always Chip,” the source said of the usual rabble rouser, referring to House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. But on Thursday it was House Budget Committee Chairman Jody Arrington, “which has surprised me, normally more reasonable.
“I just found some people there so unreasonable—they’re going to lead to the highest tax increase in history if they can’t figure out how to work with the speaker.”
Roy pushed back against accusations of discord, telling the Daily Beast the rumors of heated discussions were “total garbage” and argued leaks risked derailing potential agreements.
House GOP leaders, however, emerged with a rosier picture of the progress made, with Speaker Mike Johnson telling reporters: “I think we’ll be able to make some announcements, probably by tomorrow, and we’re excited about that.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise called it his longest-ever White House meeting and said they “narrowed the areas of disagreement” on everything from permanent tax provisions to spending cuts.
Vice President JD Vance participated in negotiations for a large portion of the meeting, with McClain telling reporters he “gets the process” and helps serve as a bridge between the White House and Congress.
“He talks our language, because he understands what has to happen in the Senate and the process. So he was very helpful,” she added.
Johnson emerged with whiteboard-sketched frameworks and a clearer picture of the fault lines they need to bridge. “We worked out the framework for what we believe will be the path forward,” Johnson said, promising announcements as soon as Thursday.
Lawmakers said the pressure-cooker session helped them figure out where different GOP factions stand—critical intelligence as leaders look to thread the needle of their razor-thin majority.
The group of lawmakers, which included conservative hardliners and moderates from swing districts won by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, were set to meet again on Thursday evening at the Capitol.
