Trump Attacks Rep. Chip Roy and Demands a Challenger in the Debt Ceiling Dispute

Trump highlights GOP differences on spending as he attacks Rep. Chip Roy for his position on the debt ceiling and demands a primary challenger.

Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Texas Congressman Chip Roy for his opposition to raising the U.S. debt ceiling without accompanying spending cuts. Trump has labeled Roy as an "obstructionist" and is calling for a primary challenger to unseat him in the upcoming election.

In his social media post, Trump expressed his frustration, stating that Chip Roy, the very unpopular Congressman from Texas, is blocking another Great Republican Victory. He’s doing it for cheap publicity. They need to get rid of obstructionists like him!

Trump continued by saying that he hopes that a "talented challenger" is preparing to run against Roy in the Republican primary, predicting that Roy “won’t have a chance.”

The debt ceiling is the legal cap on how much the U.S. government can borrow to cover previously approved spending. If not raised, the U.S. could default on its loans, which economists warn would negatively impact the economy. In a notable shift, Trump has advocated for raising or even abolishing the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office.

In a statement released with Vice President-elect JD Vance, Trump mentioned that raising the debt ceiling is not ideal, but they’d rather deal with it now than let Democrats use it against us to push liberal policies when they’re in charge.

Conversely, Rep. Roy firmly opposes raising the debt ceiling unless it includes significant constraints on future federal spending. On Sean Hannity's radio show, he articulated his support for spending restraint and structural reforms aimed at controlling government expenditures. Roy is recognized for his conservative values and his readiness to challenge party leadership, often standing against the status quo in Washington.

This disagreement has strained Roy’s relationship with Trump, particularly after his previous endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, followed by his eventual support for Trump in the general election.

This ongoing feud underscores a growing rift among Republicans regarding how to address the debt ceiling and future government spending.