Special Poll
Trump Criticizes GOP and McCarthy Over Debt Ceiling Decision
Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the House GOP and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy for their decision in 2023 to raise the debt ceiling through January 2025. While Trump referred to McCarthy as “a good man and a friend,” he labeled the move “one of the dumbest political decisions made in years.”
Trump’s comments, shared on his Truth Social platform, focused on a May 2023 vote in which Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling following negotiations between the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Biden administration. The House passed the measure in a bipartisan vote of 314-117, averting a potential government default. However, Trump expressed frustration, claiming the decision was unnecessary and handed political leverage to Democrats.
“There was no reason to do it—NOTHING WAS GAINED, and we got nothing for it,” Trump wrote. He argued that the move turned what he saw as a Democratic problem into a Republican one. Trump even likened the situation to the stock market crash of 1929, suggesting that Democrats were willing to risk economic hardship if it hurt Republicans politically.
Trump called on Congress to address the debt ceiling issue immediately, blaming the Biden administration and urging Republicans to shift responsibility onto Democrats. He criticized the timing of the extension, which now places the matter in the early months of a potential new Republican administration, and warned of potential political fallout.
The debate over the debt ceiling is a recurring issue in Washington, as lawmakers must periodically raise the borrowing limit to prevent the U.S. government from defaulting on its obligations. While Trump had previously encouraged Republicans to act on the issue, his recent remarks suggest frustration with how it was handled.
The topic has also impacted the financial markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average experiencing a 4% decline in December. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently warned that Congress would need to act again by 2025 to prevent another default crisis. The Treasury Department is expected to employ “extraordinary measures” to buy time, but those efforts would likely only last until mid-2025.
Trump’s criticism reflects broader tensions within the Republican Party over fiscal strategy, leadership, and political priorities as they navigate complex issues like the debt ceiling.