Trump Invites House Republicans To Mar-a-lago For Strategy Meetings

Scores of House Republicans are headed to Mar-a-Lago at the end of this week for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on his ambitious 2025 plans, including one massive budget reconciliation package that will be a huge undertaking.

Trump is planning to meet separately with the Freedom Caucus, House GOP Committee chairs and GOP lawmakers from New York, New Jersey and California, along with others, according to three people familiar with the plans. Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday laid out an ambitious timeline for passage of the major, party-line package with energy, tax reform and other GOP priorities, saying he’s aiming to get it to the House floor the first week of April, with final passage possible by the end of April.

The invitations to lawmakers don’t have specific agenda items listed. But Trump wants to press House Republicans to get behind his plans for a massive, one-package budget reconciliation plans, according to two of the people familiar with the plans. Though, some Trump allies acknowledge it’s still possible Republicans could ultimately break up the package.

Some congressional Republicans expressed public and private trepidation this weekend about forgoing a two-package approach that could notch some quick GOP wins, especially on the border. Several Republicans have suggested that GOP leaders and Trump could pursue one massive package, but may be forced to separate it into smaller pieces later if logistical or political problems arise.

Trump’s meeting with New York, New Jersey and California lawmakers is set for late afternoon Saturday and is likely to address the major tax reform piece of the reconciliation plans, including a key tax break in those states, known as the state and local tax deduction, or SALT.

Demands from GOP lawmakers in those states that Republicans tackle SALT in any major legislative package will be a major challenge for Trump and GOP leaders to navigate, with a large swath of the GOP conference opposed to such a move.