Debt Ceiling Drama: Trump Slams GOP’s Chip Roy As Shutdown Looms

President-elect Donald Trump has taken aim at Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), urging Republicans in Texas to mount a primary challenge against the congressman.

Republican lawmakers are racing to finalize a spending agreement to prevent a government shutdown ahead of the holiday season. Former President Trump, along with his advisor Elon Musk, has issued warnings to GOP members who oppose their terms for the deal. In a recent social media post, Trump specifically targeted Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).

According to The Hill, Trump criticized Roy on Thursday for opposing efforts to raise the debt ceiling during ongoing government funding negotiations. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Roy of obstructing progress for personal publicity, saying, “The very unpopular ‘Congressman’ from Texas, Chip Roy, is getting in the way, as usual, of having yet another Great Republican Victory.” Trump added, “Republican obstructionists have to be done away with.”

In a follow-up post, the president-elect encouraged potential challengers, stating, “I hope some talented challengers are getting ready in the Great State of Texas to go after Chip in the Primary. He won’t have a chance!”

Roy responded to Trump’s remarks on X, formerly known as Twitter, reiterating his position on the debt ceiling. “My position is simple – I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) without significant & real spending cuts attached to it. I’ve been negotiating to that end. No apologies,” he wrote.

The congressman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, has consistently pushed for spending cuts to counterbalance proposed tax reductions under the incoming administration.

The Hill reported that Trump’s criticism of Roy aligns with his broader call for lawmakers to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling to avoid a government shutdown, which could begin as early as Saturday morning if a deal isn’t reached.

Trump defended the potential shutdown onTruth Social, saying, “Our Country is far better off closing up for a period of time than it is agreeing to the things that the Democrats want to force upon us.”