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| Trump meets with Republican leader amid fears party will be 'dead' if it fails to pass tax reform | Trump meets with Republican leader amid fears party will be 'dead' if it fails to pass tax reform |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Donald Trump has met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell amid fears that Republicans will be “dead” if they fail to pass a tax reform plan. | |
| Mr Trump also need Mr McConnell to secure any major legislative victory by the end of the year | Mr Trump also need Mr McConnell to secure any major legislative victory by the end of the year |
| While he claims he’s “ahead of schedule” in terms of accomplishments, Mr Trump’s first 250 days in office have mainly involved undermining Obama-era accords and regulations rather than getting any of his campaign promises approved by Congress. | While he claims he’s “ahead of schedule” in terms of accomplishments, Mr Trump’s first 250 days in office have mainly involved undermining Obama-era accords and regulations rather than getting any of his campaign promises approved by Congress. |
| Tensions between Mr McConnell and Mr Trump have run high in recent months following the Senate’s failure to pass a bill that would have repealed and replaced Obamacare – which Mr Trump had promised to do during his first 100 days as President. | Tensions between Mr McConnell and Mr Trump have run high in recent months following the Senate’s failure to pass a bill that would have repealed and replaced Obamacare – which Mr Trump had promised to do during his first 100 days as President. |
| The lunchtime conversation on Monday is expected to partially focus on tax reform, another one of Mr Trump’s priorities. Vice President Mike Pence will also attend the lunch. | The lunchtime conversation on Monday is expected to partially focus on tax reform, another one of Mr Trump’s priorities. Vice President Mike Pence will also attend the lunch. |
| This week, the Senate will vote on a budget bill, which will enable Republicans to pass a tax measure without any support from Democrats. | This week, the Senate will vote on a budget bill, which will enable Republicans to pass a tax measure without any support from Democrats. |
| The budget plan calls for more than $5 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years. It also promises to slash spending on Medicaid – a healthcare programme for the poor – by about $1 trillion in the coming decade. | The budget plan calls for more than $5 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years. It also promises to slash spending on Medicaid – a healthcare programme for the poor – by about $1 trillion in the coming decade. |
| With members of the party already appearing to be divided on key issues regarding tax reform, there is uncertainty over whether Republicans will succeed in passing a bill by the end of the year. | With members of the party already appearing to be divided on key issues regarding tax reform, there is uncertainty over whether Republicans will succeed in passing a bill by the end of the year. |
| Conservatives have long railed against the US’s large debt, which is currently about $20 trillion. And some have suggested they won’t vote ‘yes’ on a tax bill if the proposed tax cuts lead to an increase in the nation’s budget deficit. | Conservatives have long railed against the US’s large debt, which is currently about $20 trillion. And some have suggested they won’t vote ‘yes’ on a tax bill if the proposed tax cuts lead to an increase in the nation’s budget deficit. |
| On Sunday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CBS said that if they fail to pass tax legislation, “we’re dead”, predicting big losses for Republicans in the House of Representatives and primaries in the Senate. | On Sunday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CBS said that if they fail to pass tax legislation, “we’re dead”, predicting big losses for Republicans in the House of Representatives and primaries in the Senate. |
| “It will be the end of Mitch McConnell as we know it,” Mr Graham said. | “It will be the end of Mitch McConnell as we know it,” Mr Graham said. |
| Mr McConnell is already under attack by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who has declared war on the Republican establishment. | Mr McConnell is already under attack by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who has declared war on the Republican establishment. |
| “Yeah, Mitch, the donors are not happy. They've all left you. We've cut your oxygen off,” Mr Bannon said during a speech at the Value Voters Summit, a gathering of conservative evangelicals. | “Yeah, Mitch, the donors are not happy. They've all left you. We've cut your oxygen off,” Mr Bannon said during a speech at the Value Voters Summit, a gathering of conservative evangelicals. |
| Mr Bannon, in an interview on Fox News, said he’s putting together a group to challenge every incumbent Republican, except for Texas Senator Ted Cruz. | Mr Bannon, in an interview on Fox News, said he’s putting together a group to challenge every incumbent Republican, except for Texas Senator Ted Cruz. |