Republican Chip Roy Responds to Donald Trump’s Primary Threat: ‘No Excuses’

What’s new

Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s call for him to face a primary challenge Thursday.

“My position is simple – I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (accumulate more debt) without significant and real spending cuts associated with it. I have negotiated to that end. No excuses,” Roy wrote in a post to X (formerly Twitter).

Why it matters

The confrontation comes as House Republicans scramble to pass a bill to fund the federal government and avoid a government shutdown less than a week before Christmas.

Roy, a staunch conservative, is among the lawmakers opposed to raising the debt ceiling, which Trump has deemed “unnecessary” amid negotiations over the spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR).

The debt ceiling is a statutory limit on how much the federal government can borrow. It has long been an issue in policy debates by Congress, which has raised or suspended it at several points to avoid default on the national debt. However, critics say removing the border would be bad for the country’s long-term economic strength.

What to know

Roy was responding to a Truth Social post by Trump, who accused Roy of “getting in the way” of a deal. Trump wrote that “Republican obstructionists need to be done away with,” and that Roy should be “rejected as being completely ignorant of the ways of politics and of Making America Great Again.”

“Chip Roy is just another ambitious guy with no talent. By the way, how’s Bob Good? I hope some talented challengers are getting ready in the great state of Texas to go after Chip in the Primary. He won’t stand a chance! ” Trump wrote.

Roy opposes raising the debt limit, which Trump has vocally supported. The president-elect told NBC News that eliminating the debt ceiling would be the “smartest thing it (Congress) could do.”

“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” he said.

Trump previously said Republicans who support the original CR, which was proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson this week, should be the primary.

What people say

Former Vice President Mike Pence on X: “Congressman Chip Roy is one of the most principled conservatives in Washington DC, and people across this country are grateful for his stand against runaway federal spending. We just can’t keep piling trillions in debt onto our children and grandchildren .”

Radio host Dana Loesch on X: “Why? @chiproytx is one of the best conservative fighters in Congress. He’s popular here in Texas. Why do we pick fights with proven conservative stalwarts and not the left? Why does he talk tougher about Chip Roy than Mike Johnson?”

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, the X: “I agree with President-elect Trump that Congress should repeal the debt limit and never again govern by hostage-taking.”

What happens next

Trump announced on Truth Social Thursday afternoon that he supports a new spending package reached by House Representative Mike Johnson that will “keep the government open, fund our great farmers and others, and provide relief to those hit hard by the devastating hurricanes.”

He urged all members of Congress to vote in support of the bill Thursday night.