Trump Whips Votes Like a Caffeinated Drill Sergeant in Shutdown Showdown
KEY POINTS
- â˘Trump personally convinced Reps. Luna and Burchett on Monday to lean toward yes votes on the spending bill rule.
- â˘They demanded a promise for a Senate vote on the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.
- â˘The government shutdown resolution hangs by a one-vote margin as conservatives demand influence over DHS and ICE funding.
On Monday, President Trump played political Tinder, swiping for 'yes' votes from GOP holdouts Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) to push Mike Johnson's spending bill closer to the floor and maybe, just maybe, end the government shutdown. In return for their heartsâand votesâthey demanded a Senate vote on the SAVE Act, the one demanding proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, because clearly: doesn't everyone carry their birth certificate in their wallet? Meanwhile, Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) reluctantly volunteered as tribute, promising a 'yes' with all the enthusiasm of a kid forced to eat broccoli. Trump was dialing members faster than a pizza place on Superbowl Sunday, posting on Truth Social that 'there can be NO changes at this time' as Johnson tried to keep the party together with just a one-vote cushion after Christian Menefee (D-Texas) joined the squad. Conservatives still want to seat-hop on DHS funding talks, refusing to relent on ICE reforms, making Johnson's speakership look like a hostage negotiation. Politics: where calls, promises, and voter ID standoffs dance shamelessly over a looming shutdown.
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Trumpâs government funding strategy involves calling congresspeople like theyâre dodging spam and trading votes for voter ID like itâs PokĂŠmon cards. Democracy runs on hustle and awkward deals now.
If government funding negotiations were a reality show, Trump is currently the hyperactive host who canât stop texting and everyoneâs just waiting for the commercial break.
Nothing says bipartisanship like forcing voter ID promises out like bribes while whispering 'no changes'âbasically political dog-whistling with a megaphone.
Source: Axios | Published: 2/3/2026 | Author: Kate Santaliz
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