Chad Pergram explains that Trump’s veto tweet has absolutely blindsided and rattled Congress.
Trump’s tweet about potentially vetoing the omnibus rattled CapHill. Blindsided everyone because the WH signed off on the pkg Hse now delayed by 10 mins starting pro forma session. Could mean they are scrambling to determine if they need to write a stopgap bill
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
It hasn’t just rattled Congress, it’s also apparently rattled Mattis too:
Fox has learned DefSec Mattis is calling Trump about the possibility of losing all defense increases if he blows up Omnibus. Sr Hill Source says Trump “is going to flatline defense if he’s not careful.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
If Trump vetoes omnibus Republicans would lose all of the big increases they scored in the bill. Even if they could get clearance to do an interim bill, defense money would revert to the old levels.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
Just yesterday Paul Ryan assured everyone that Trump supported the bill:
Speaker Ryan yesterday: "The President supports this bill. There’s no two ways about it."
President Trump tweeted this morning he's "considering" a veto of the spending bill, citing lack of DACA deal and border wall funding. pic.twitter.com/2moGPlTvLu
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 23, 2018
Even Trump’s OMB Director said Trump would sign the bill:
OMB Director Mulvaney yesterday:
"Let's cut right to the chase: Is the president going to sign the bill? The answer is yes." pic.twitter.com/YV2zs6NDmn
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 23, 2018
This morning the White House Spox seemed speechless about Trump’s tweet:
WH spox Raj Shah on Trump tweet threatening to veto omnibus after WH signed off on it: “The President’s comment is the comment. There is nothing to add to it.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
Pergram says if Trump does veto the bill, the government will shut down because many in Congress have already left and the House is done until Monday:
If Trump vetoes the omnibus after signing off on it, the gov’t WILL shut down. Members are now spread to the 4 winds. Some are heading overseas on official trips. There would be objections to approving a stopgap w/a skeleton staff because mbrs negotiated the deal
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
If Trump vetoes omnibus, there are NOT the votes to override a veto. You need 2/3 of both the House and Senate. The Senate vote last night was 62-35. So a few votes short. Same in the House. The vote was 256-167
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
After a 12 minute delay, the House finally conducted a brief pro forma session and conducted no business. The House adjourned until 4 pm et Monday for another pro forma session. This is significant. If President Trump vetoes the omnibus bill, there will be a government shutdown.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2018
He got the numbers wrong on the Senate vote, but his point is still valid.
I predict that despite all of this commotion Trump is causing today, he will likely still sign the bill by the end of the day because he essentially signed off on it yesterday. That, and he won’t want the bad press of a government shutdown on his shoulders even though a government shutdown is not really a big deal.