Key Takeaways:
- Michael Steele criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson for defending a large spending bill.
- Steele calls Johnson’s defense a “silly mind game” and questions the reliability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
- He accuses Republicans of planning to cut services for low-income families and the poor.
- Steele believes the Senate will eventually give Donald Trump most of what he wants.
- He also mocks Elon Musk’s influence and Trump’s strategy to avoid blame.
Steele Calls Out Johnson for Defending the Spending Bill
Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, recently criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for his defense of a massive spending bill. Steele’s comments came after Johnson responded to criticism from Elon Musk about the bill’s size and cost.
On Thursday, Johnson told Fox News that he sent Musk a long text explaining that the bill can be both “big and beautiful.” He also dismissed Musk’s concerns by saying the budget projections come from the CBO, which he called “historically totally unreliable.”
Steele fired back during a Friday appearance on MSNBC. He mocked Johnson’s arguments, saying, “What is the speaker talking about? The CBO is totally historically unreliable. Why do you have them? Defund the operation. You want to save some money, get rid of an institution that doesn’t provide you with good information. What are you talking about?”
Steele Accuses GOP of Playing “Silly Mind Games”
Steele went on to describe the situation as a “silly mind game.” He believes the Senate will eventually give in to Donald Trump’s demands, passing a version of the bill that cuts services for low-income families and those in need of healthcare.
“The cuts are going to be made, and then they’re going to have to go out to the country and explain to our poor and those who are in dire need of healthcare,” Steele said. He also slammed Republicans for planning to cut programs like food assistance (SNAP) and healthcare services.
Steele argued that Republicans will struggle to justify these cuts to voters. “You can talk about a big, beautiful bill all day, but at the end of the day, the weight of that bill is going to land on the back of the very constituents that you clearly don’t care about,” he said.
Steele Criticizes Musk and Trump’s Roles in the Drama
Steele also commented on the roles of Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the situation. He compared Musk to someone “with a chainsaw, doing his thing,” while Trump sits back and lets others take the blame.
Steele described the situation as a political drama, saying, “That’s the drama in front of us as I see it.” He criticized the House for being “wholly feckless” in stopping the bill’s passage.
What’s Next?
As the spending bill moves to the Senate, the debate over its size and impact is likely to grow. Critics like Steele argue that the bill’s cuts will hurt vulnerable populations, while supporters like Johnson insist it’s necessary. Meanwhile, figures like Musk and Trump continue to influence the conversation, adding more drama to an already tense situation.
Steele’s comments highlight the challenges Republicans may face in selling this bill to voters, especially if cuts to essential services become a reality.
To watch Steele’s full commentary, click the link below or visit the YouTube channel.