House Majority Whip, Rep. Tom Emmer from Minnesota, is gearing up to help make President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda a reality—despite the slim majority that Republicans hold in the House.
“We’re going to make the Trump agenda happen,” Emmer said in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl. “The people spoke on November 5. They want action on key issues like reducing spending, tackling the debt, and stopping runaway inflation. They also want Trump to secure the southern border and bring more stability to the world.”
Trump has talked about getting his priorities done in one big bill, covering everything from tax cuts to border security. But making a bill that huge work with both the Senate and House might be tricky. While some are pushing for one big package, others are leaning toward breaking it into smaller pieces. Emmer is open to either option.
“Once we decide, it doesn’t matter if it’s one bill or multiple,” Emmer explained. “My job is to make sure we get it done. I love a challenge. I’m excited to prove the doubters wrong.” He pointed out that even without the White House or Senate, Republicans managed to accomplish things that hadn’t been done in years.
When asked about working with Democrats on the debt ceiling—a topic Trump has pushed to raise or eliminate—Emmer said that, under the right circumstances, some Republicans could be persuaded to come on board.
“The real issue is not the debt ceiling number itself, but controlling spending and figuring out how to pay off our debt,” Emmer said. “Once we have a solid plan, House Republicans can make a real difference.”
As for the wildfires in California, President Biden promised federal aid for emergency funding. Emmer said it’s too soon to know exactly how much will be needed, but he noted that Congress had already passed the American Relief Act, which provided billions for situations like this.
Finally, when asked about his relationship with Trump—who had criticized Emmer during his bid for House speaker—Emmer assured that things are on great terms.
“The president has been fantastic to me and my wife,” Emmer said. “He’s done everything he can to support us in Minnesota. We’re going to work together to do some great things, but it’s Trump’s agenda. My job is to make sure we execute it.”
Emmer is clearly ready to roll up his sleeves and get things done—whether in one bill or a few. It’s all about action, and he’s ready to deliver.
