Republicans Need Their Closer

Rachel Bade: “While Trump spent the week hob-nobbing with crown princes, emirs and titans of industry, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans were watching Trump’s legislative agenda run slowly aground. Less than two hours after Trump sent his message, a clutch of hard-line conservatives joined with Democrats to tank a key House Budget Committee vote on Trump’s big tax, border and defense bill.”

“It was the latest demonstration that while Johnson and fellow GOP leaders might be within striking distance of advancing the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ Trump remains the essential ingredient to getting anything done on Capitol Hill.”

“So after a five-day, eight-time-zone hiatus, expect the closer to start closing. The coming week, no doubt, will see a flurry of holdouts shuffling back and forth from the Capitol to the White House, not to mention an angry phone call or 20.”