Government shutdown live updates: Republicans look for last-ditch effort to fund the nation through Christmas

House Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans are scrambling to find a new deal to avert a US government shutdown before federal funding runs out at midnight on Friday.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has already begun warning government agencies to prepare for the worst.

The Capitol has meanwhile been wracked with confusion this morning, with members offering mixed messages as they left the speaker’s office on the prospect of progress.

The crisis erupted after Johnson’s second congressional spending bill, drafted at the insistence of Donald Trump to include a suspension of the debt limit and remove a number of concessions to Democrats, was comprehensively defeated in the House of Representatives on Thursday night by 235 votes to 174.

The result was a major embarrassment for the incoming president, Elon Musk and the GOP that leaves the government once more hurtling towards an impasse.

The president-elect responded by complaining in a statement: “Nearly every single House Democrat just voted against government funding and to shut down the government.

“These 197 Democrats voted against keeping the government open, disaster relief, and aid for farmers.”

Key Points

• Government shutdown looms after Republican spending plan fails, plunging DC into chaos

• House Republicans to meet to discuss emergency funding strategy and breaking up bill into four separate votes

• Trump and Elon Musk blame Democrats for tanking bill despite 38 Republicans rebelling

• Elon blows up Congress – and the illusion of Mike Johnson’s power

• Joe Biden cancels final round of student loans

• Trump continues to insist on debt ceiling removal despite House defeat

Government funding fight ‘is a mess that Speaker Johnson created,’ White House press secretary says

19:00 , Alex Woodward

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing Friday that the government funding fight “is a mess that Speaker Johnson created. It was his mess to fix … In this day and age, they were able to come up with a bipartisan deal.”

“The impact of this would hurt our veterans and vulnerable Americans across the country … Americans need to know that Republicans are getting in the way here,” she added.

Asked for Biden’s reaction to the labeling of Musk as “President Musk” or “Vice President Musk,” Jean-Pierre said congressional Republicans “under the direction of President Trump and Elon Musk are trying to pave the way … for $5 trillion to our national debt.”

“We’re talking about cuts for billionaires, slashing Social Security, slashing Medicare, slashing Head Start … congressional Republicans did what Trump and Musk said. That’s the reality. That’s what you reported,” she said.

When the press secretary was asked for a response to Republicans who are cheering on a shutdown, and what the consequences would be, she said, “It is sad that I have to explain that … One of their duties is to keep the government open … They’re picking their billionaire friends … not the American people.”

She also confirmed reports that OMB has been notifying agencies to prepare for a potential shutdown.

“Agencies did start notifying their employees of potential furloughs today at noon,” she said.

Hakeem Jeffries has the higher ground

18:45 , Eric Garcia

For the past two years of House Republican rule, whenever a handful of conservatives said “hell no,” House Speaker Mike Johnson could lean on Hakeem Jeffries.

Unlike Kevin McCarthy, Johnson hasn’t unnecessarily antagonized Democrats. His decision to put Ukraine aid to the floor led Jeffries to bail out Johnson when Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to vacate.

Johnson broke that trust when he caved to Elon Musk. There was a bipartisan deal on the table that had been negotiated by all sides in the House and Senate. By reneging on the deal, Jeffries has every incentive to hold the line and tell Johnson “hell no,” which was a common refrain among House Democrats on Thursday evening.

This spells trouble for Johnson. Next Congress, Republicans will have only 220 seats, barely a majority. Given there are a handful of Republicans who will always oppose anything Johnson puts on the floor.

Expect Jeffries to hold the line.

Mandelson says it is ‘great honour’ to be named UK ambassador to US

18:30 , Helen Corbett

Lord Peter Mandelson has said it is a “great honour to serve the country” as the Prime Minister confirmed he had appointed him the next British ambassador to the US.

Labour grandee Lord Mandelson, who served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, becomes the UK’s top diplomat in Washington DC as US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

“It is a great honour to serve the country in this way,” Lord Madelson said.

Read more:

Mandelson says it is ‘great honour’ to be named UK ambassador to US

‘I don’t know what’s going on,’ House Republican says

18:22 , Gustaf Kilander

Democratic senator slams Musk’s influence amid government spending debacle

18:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN Friday that the Republican House funding plan “may not pass the House because all it takes is one tweet from a billionaire 15 minutes from now and House Republicans will go running for the hills. Musk and Ramaswamy are in charge of our government right now it seems.”

Republicans discuss possible funding options in conference meeting

18:07 , Gustaf Kilander

Famed podcaster Kara Swisher pitching ‘long-shot’ bid to buy Washington Post from Jeff Bezos

18:00 , Justin Baragona

Tech podcaster Kara Swisher told Axios this week that she is attempting to round up a group of wealthy investors to put together a bid to purchase The Washington Post amid its ongoing turmoil under Jeff Bezos’ ownership.

Even though Bezos has not expressed any willingness or interest in selling the paper, Swisher believes that the ultra-rich Amazon founder will look to unload the Post due to the compounding headaches swirling around the outlet – many of which lie at the mega-billionaire’s feet.

Read more:

Tech podcaster pitching ‘long-shot’ bid to buy Washington Post from Jeff Bezos

Trump urges shutdown sooner rather than later

17:55 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump

Debt limit fight to pushed to next year: report

17:50 , Gustaf Kilander

VOICES: Peter Mandelson is a gamble as US ambassador – but exactly what Trump needs

17:40 , Jon Sopel

One of the hardest things about being the British ambassador to Washington is giving it up at the end of your term.

You are living in one of the finest private addresses in DC – the only Lutyens built house in North America – with its fabulous art collection, swimming pool, tennis court and hot and cold running servants; with your chauffeur driven Bentley, manicured gardens – and you’re right next door to the vice president’s official residence on Massachusetts Avenue. Trading that for your semi in Balham, or wherever your civil service salary has allowed you to buy, is quite the readjustment.

And our embassy in DC has just been totally refurbished at a cost of tens of millions of pounds. Yes, there can still be a bit of a sewery smell on the lower ground floor, and the fireplace in the drawing room when lit invariably smokes out the whole house so that guests have to retreat to the terrace. But these are small details.

Read more:

Peter Mandelson is a gamble as US ambassador – but exactly what Trump needs

‘Republicans need to get onboard with President Trump’

17:20 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Trump can sit on Truth Social all day. That didn’t persuade 38 members of Congress’

17:10 , Gustaf Kilander

How a government shutdown could impact your holiday plans

17:00 , Joe Sommerlad

A partial government shutdown is looming over the United States right before the holidays due to disagreements over a spending bill in Congress and lawmakers have until Friday night to figure it out.

If a spending bill finally does pass, federal agencies would be funded until mid-March.

But if it reaches midnight and there is still no deal, some federal services will be temporarily sidelined or federal workers will go unpaid.

Here’s Ariana Baio on how a government shutdown could impact Americans’ holiday plans.

How a government shutdown could impact your holiday plans

House Republicans to meet to discuss emergency funding strategy and breaking up bill into four separate votes

16:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Alaska Senator says she’s begun cancelling flights home for Christmas

16:43 , Joe Sommerlad

Republican Lisa Murkowski has been speaking just now to The Independent’s Eric Garcia on the chaos in Congress and tells him she has four flights home for Christmas booked and has already had to cancel one.

“I’m reading whatever you guys are writing,” she said of the struggle to stay abreast of developments.

On Elon Musk’s influence over the incoming Trump administration, Murkowski said: “I guess that’s the power of an influencer. I mean, you know, you would think that there’s value in your election certificate, that we’re back here to do the work – and we will do the work.

“But this is obviously a level of influence that we saw the impact of yesterday.”

Her Kentucky counterpart Rand Paul tells The Indy that he thinks Chuck Schumer will pass a spending bill to keep the government open and then kick it to the House.

“I think Schumer eventually will pass something here, and that it’ll go over there and it’ll pass over there,” he said.

Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester was more blunt, telling us: “Look, the House has taken orders from the unelected false president Elon Musk.

“That’s the kind of s*** you run into when you start listening to people who aren’t elected.

“They need to get their heads out of the back end of whoever they got it up and get the job done.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders adds: “You have Elon Musk, an unelected official telling Republicans what they have to do and threatening to primary them if they don’t obey his wishes, you’re really seeing the power of oligarchy and the power of big money.”

Voices: ‘Trump’s war on the press is straight out the Putin playbook’

16:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The incoming president and his acolytes are promising retribution for critical journalists, writes Alan Rusbridger.

It is already having a chilling impact – and poses grave threats to the future of the free press.

Trump’s war on the press is straight out the Putin playbook

Elon Musk endorses German far-right AfD party as ‘saviour’ of country

16:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Fresh from spoiling Christmas for America’s congressmen and women, the Big Tech mogul has described the far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the country’s “saviour”, sparking calls from Berlin for him to “stay out” of its politics.

Honestly, couldn’t he just take up tennis or something?

Here’s Tom Watling’s report.

Elon Musk endorses far right AfD party as ‘saviour’ of Germany

Trump moves his entire $4bn stake in Truth Social into his trust ahead of White House move

16:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump has transferred all 114.75m of his shares in the parent company that runs his Truth Social platform into a revocable trust before he returns to the White House.

His shares in Trump Media & Technology Group are currently worth roughly $4bn, representing the lion’s share of his roughly $6bn net worth. He is the group’s largest shareholder.

Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show the president-elect transferring the stake into the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust earlier this week.

His oldest son, Donald Trump Jr, is the sole trustee and has sole voting and investment power over securities held by the trust, according to the filings.

Trump remains the “sole beneficiary” of the trust.

Alex Woodward has more.

Trump moves his entire $4 billion stake in Truth Social into his trust

Jeffries accuses MAGA Republicans of ‘marching America to a painful shutdown’

16:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Speaking to CNN’s Manu Raju just now, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had this to say about the state of play:

“Extreme MAGA Republicans are marching America to a painful government shutdown that will crash the economy and hurt working-class Americans because they would rather enact massive tax cuts for their billionaire donors than fund cancer research.”

His counterpart in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, is meanwhile urging Speaker Johnson to revert to the original bipartisan stop-gap funding deal he had agreed to before Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s intervention.

“If Republicans do not work with Democrats in a bipartisan way very soon, the government will shut down at midnight. It’s time to go back to the original agreement we had just a few days ago. It’s time the House votes on our bipartisan CR,” Schumer said.

“It’s the quickest, simplest and easiest way we can make sure the government stays open while delivering critical emergency aid to the American people. If the House put our original agreement on the floor today, it would pass and we could put the threat of a shutdown behind us.

“Our agreement would keep the government open, provide emergency aid for communities battered by hurricanes and other natural disasters, support our seniors, support our doctors, nurses, rural hospitals, and protect our farmers from the dairy cliff. As I said, the only, only way to get anything done is through bipartisanship.”

But the White House Office of Management and Budget, for one, appears to have given up all hope…

This is what White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had to say in response to last night’s events:

“Republicans are doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans.

“Republicans are breaking their word to support a bipartisan agreement that would lower prescription drug costs and make it harder to offshore jobs to China – and instead putting forward a bill that paves the way for tax breaks for billionaires while cutting critical programs working families count on, from Social Security to Head Start.

“President Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, help communities recovering from disasters, and lower costs – not this giveaway for billionaires that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour.”

Trump was ‘possibly sold a bad bill’, says Lauren Boebert

15:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The MAGA Colorado congresswoman has been speaking to CNN and has this excuse to offer on the president-elect’s behalf.

“I think President Trump was possibly sold a bad bill,” she said.

“I voted for it because we do want to do that. But unfortunately, I didn’t want to see what we saw last night.

“I did not want to see a failure on the House floor for the first demand that President Trump is making.

“And so now we are working to get something that will not fail for the president.”

Fox News claims Trump isn’t bothered by Elon Musk’s influence and authorizes his tweets: ‘They’re in lockstep’

15:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Fox and Friends host Lawrence Jones insisted on Friday that Trump is “not bothered” by Democrats trolling him by claiming that “first buddy” Elon Musk is the “real president” and insisted instead that the president-elect authorized Musk’s recent tweets because “they’re in lockstep.”

Justin Baragona has more.

Fox News claims Trump is authorizing Elon Musk’s tweets: ‘They’re in lockstep’

More student loans canceled in Joe Biden’s final round of forgiveness before leaving office

15:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Biden administration is canceling federal student loans for another 55,000 workers through an existing program known as Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The Education Department’s announcement on Friday targets teachers, nurses, service members, law enforcement officials and others who have reached eligibility through the program, which promises to erase loans after 10 years of work in government or non-profit jobs.

The $4.28bn in relief is expected to be the final round of public service loan forgiveness before Joe Biden leaves office in January.

After failing to deliver his promise of widespread loan cancellation, Biden has instead focused on expanding loan relief through programs that were created before his presidency.

More student loans canceled in Biden’s final round of forgiveness before leaving office

Nightmare before Christmas: DC plunges into chaos as government shutdown looms after Republican spending plan fails

15:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Congress is scrambling to avoid a government shutdown before funding runs dry Friday night at midnight.

Thirty-eight Republicans voted against a proposal backed by President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday night to keep the government funded and raise the debt ceiling.

This came after Trump waded into the debate over the funding deal following repeated outbursts from his newfound confidant Elon Musk.

Speaker Mike Johnson must now find a deal that can keep Trump and the conservatives in his own conference on board, that can win the support of a significant number of House Democrats, that can find support in both the Democratic Senate and White House and that, at the same time, allows him to retain the speakership.

No simple task.

Here’s Gustaf Kilander’s report.

Nightmare before Christmas: DC plunges into chaos as government shutdown looms

‘Welcome back to the MAGA swamp’

15:04 , Gustaf Kilander

Hakeem Jeffries

Lord Mandelson set to be appointed as UK ambassador to the US

15:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Peter Mandelson is expected to be announced as UK ambassador to the United States while Sir Keir Starmer prepares for the Trump presidency.

The prime minister is said to believe Lord Mandelson has the trade expertise and networking abilities to bolster the UK’s interests during a delicate period for relations with the US.

Lord Mandelson, 71, last served in government 14 years ago when Gordon Brown was prime minister.

Here’s Jabad Ahmed and Kate Devlin with a guide for the unitiated.

Peter Mandelson set to be appointed as UK ambassador to the US

Senate Democrat says she’s ready to stay in DC ‘through Christmas’ amid government funding fight

15:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Speaker Johnson looking to split up failed bill into separate votes

14:46 , Gustaf Kilander

Senators holding ‘secret’ talks about bipartisan bill to increase border security

14:40 , Joe Sommerlad

A small group of senators are already holding “secret” talks about a bipartisan bill to increase security on the border, according to a report.

The border is the number one priority for Trump, who has already urged Senate Republicans to move swiftly to push through a border package next year.

GOP senators promised to move quickly on the package, using the budget reconciliation to get it done.

But the bipartisan group of senators, including at least two Democrats from Trump-voting states, have also been involved in conversations about a border bill that could secure the 60 votes necessary to pass, according to Axios.

Rhian Lubin has more.

Senators holding ‘secret’ talks about bipartisan bill to boost border security

Confusion spreads throughout Capitol amid spending deal negotiations

14:36 , Gustaf Kilander

Pete Hegseth says he hasn’t heard from West Point since admission ‘mistake’

14:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s nominee for defense secretary has complained that he has not yet received a personal apology from the elite US military academy West Point after it mistakenly claimed he had never applied to or attended the school.

Although the institution did issue a statement to news outlets apologizing for the mishap last week, Hegseth griped to Fox News: “I haven’t heard from West Point. Nothing.”

Hegseth is do to face a fiery confirmation hearing in the Senate on January 14, when a series of allegations about his past are sure to be raised.

Ariana Baio has more.

Hegseth says he hasn’t heard from West Point since admission letter ‘mistake’

Inside the White House workings to keep a ‘diminished’ Biden informed

14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

President Joe Biden’s closest aides and advisers increasingly told visitors to keep meetings short and focused as his encounters with Democratic members of Congress and top cabinet officials grew rarer over the course of his presidency as age began to take its toll on his health.

Gustaf Kilander has this report on how White House staffers sought to manage and work around their commander-in-chief’s growing exhaustion and infirmity.

Inside the White House workings to keep a ‘diminished’ Biden informed

Trump’s nominee for press secretary says podcasters and influencers will be welcomed into White House briefing room

13:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Karoline Leavitt pledged to reflect changes in the media environment when she takes to the lectern next year in conversation with her predecessor in the job Kayleigh McEnany.

‘This is a Biden problem to solve’, insists Trump

16:14 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest from the president-elect on the crisis he played a big part in creating.

He offers no thought for the victims of a potential government shutdown, which is only hours away, but instead remains focused solely on his own reputation.

Watch: Pundit suggests Trump has been ‘out-MAGA’ed’ by Musk

13:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Last night naturally provided America’s political commentators with plenty of material and this from Dispatch editor-in-chief Jonah Goldberg is particularly astute.

Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky also enjoyed herself on CNN.

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk Ukraine with Trump

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

In between boasts about Russia’s military achievements in his annual marathon televised news conference, Putin said yesterday he is ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks on ending his war and has no conditions for starting discussions.

The Russian president also told one reporter he was ready to meet Donald Trump, who he said he had not spoken to for years, despite speculation to the contrary.

Alastair Jamieson reports.

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

Christmas ad for Trump’s $60 Bibles airs on conservative media

12:40 , Joe Sommerlad

A Christmas-themed version of Donald Trump’s video advert promoting his “God Bless the USA” Bibles has been spotted airing on conservative media ahead of the holiday season.

The president-elect began selling the religious texts – co-endorsed by the country music star Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic anthem “God Save the USA” was a staple at Trump’s campaign rallies – back in March, retailing for $59.99.

“We must defend God in the public square and not allow the media or the left-wing groups to silence, censor, or discriminate against us,” Trump declares in the revived video, which was posted on X by social media personality Aaron Rupar after noticing it on Fox News.

The promo now comes with added baubles and a piano version of “O Come Let Us Adore him” playing in the background.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s team created or officially endorsed the ad.

Trump narrates Christmas ad for $60 Trump-themed bibles as legal bill looms

Elon Musk lashes out as he gets first taste of political failure when spending deal voted down

12:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s more on the Big Tech boss’s humiliation on Capitol Hill last night, an experience he will not have been used to or enjoyed.

Elon Musk lashes out as he gets first taste of political failure

Farmers, business owners, homeowners face uncertainty after $100bn in disaster relief flounders

12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a look at the serious real-world consequences of last night’s ludicrous political theatre in DC, which is no joke to working Americans.

Farmers, business owners, homeowners face uncertainty after $100B in disaster relief flounders

Watch: Fox pundit Jessica Tarlov slams Musk for opposing bipartisan cancer research funding

11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rand Paul back Musk for House speaker

11:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Surely nothing this ridiculous could actually happen – or could it?

Here’s more from Josh Marcus.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rand Paul back Elon Musk as House speaker

Trump backs Johnson amid calls for his ouster over shutdown debacle

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect (so far) isn’t joining calls from some in his party to replace Speaker Johnson at the start of the next Congress, although things are movingly quickly and last night will not have helped the Louisana Republican’s cause.

Johnson won the gavel last October after a protracted fight following the ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy – an event touched off by McCarthy’s decision to allow a vote to fund the government on a bipartisan basis rather than forcing a shutdown until passage of a party-line bill more acceptable to hardline conservatives.

Here’s more from Andrew Feinberg on Trump’s current support for Johnson, which may well not last.

Trump backs Johnson amid calls for his ouster over shutdown debacle

Trump threatens primary challenge to Chip Roy for breaking ranks

10:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect issued that threat against the deeply conservative Texas GOP congressman yesterday, calling him a “Republican obstructionist” seeking only “cheap publicity for himself”:

Unbowed, Roy responed on social media and then castigated his “asinine” party on the House floor for lacking “an ounce of self-respect” as he voted down the bill:

Democrat tells Republicans: ‘Put on your big boy pants’

10:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The opposition needs to avoid gloating here as the consequences of a federal shutdown are no laughing matter for the American people but the current chaos is also an unmissable opportunity to draw attention to Republican dysfunction.

“Put on your big boy pants,” Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz told the GOP in the House yesterday, just days after he was reported to be Trump’s choice to run FEMA (and politely declined).

“Pass your own bill. We’re only here because you guys can’t agree amongst yourselves.”

Speaking in the aftermath of yesterday’s disaster, Moskowitz’s Texas colleague Jasmine Crockett told MSNBC: “I’m just gonna sit back. We’re looking at this like, this is their problem.”

She continued: “We have seen this play out over and over in the entire two years that I’ve been in Congress.

“But here’s the deal: There is no fixing this without the Democrats.

“We have seen this over and over, and I’m just gonna sit back and sip my tea and wait on them to figure it out.”

Team Trump slaps back at claims Musk is running the show

10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

California Democratic Representative Barbara Lee warned on CNN last night that allowing Elon Musk to “run our government really has grave consequences on the American people”.

Comments like that over the last 24 hours have forced Trump’s tranisition team to insist that it is the president-elect who is really in charge of their incoming administration, not Musk, a humiliating business for all concerned and very much not a good look for the administration exactly one month before it takes office.

Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.

Team Trump slaps back at claims Elon Musk is running the show

Analysis: Elon blows up Congress – and the illusion of Mike Johnson’s power

09:40 , Joe Sommerlad

An agreement was struck. Washington was ready to leave for the holidays having come together on a plan to fund the government and avert a shutdown – albeit with some grumbling on the MAGA right.

But then Elon Musk jumped in.

Here’s John Bowden and Andrew Feinberg on another fine mess the unelected billionaire has gotten the GOP into.

Elon blows up Congress — and the illusion of Mike Johnson’s grip on power

Trump continues to insist on debt ceiling removal despite House defeat

09:20 , Joe Sommerlad

These are the latest Truth Social posts from the president-elect, which find him not addressing his defeat directly but digging in his heels nonetheless – and also ramping up his tariff threats against America’s friends and neighbours, perhaps hoping to fund the federal government that way.

All of which is a long way from yesterday’s triumphalism before the vote, which prematurely hailed: “SUCCESS in Washington!”

Trump, Musk blame Democrats for tanking spending bill despite 38 Republicans voting against it

08:55 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning!

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have lashed out after House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Plan B congressional spending bill, drafted at their insistence to include a suspension of the debt limit and remove a number of concessions to Democrats, was comprehensively defeated in the House of Representatives last night by 235 votes against to 174 for.

The result is a major embarrassment for the GOP and the incoming president that leaves the US government once more hurtling towards a shutdown unless an alternative can be agreed by midnight tonight.

This is what the president-elect had to say in a statement in response:

“Nearly every single House Democrat just voted against government funding and to shut down the government.

“These 197 Democrats voted against keeping the government open, disaster relief, and aid for farmers.

“As Vice President-elect JD Vance said, Democrats ‘asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get.’”

Elon, the great disrupter, lashed out on X along similar lines:

None of that is true, however, as Trump and Musk’s bullying tactics also failed to convince no fewer than 38 Republicans.

This was the immediate reaction from Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries:

Here’s a full report from Alex Woodward and Eric Garcia.

Democrats tank ‘laughable’ Trump-backed spending deal with help from conservatives

WATCH: Fani Willis removed from Trump election case

07:00 , Graig Graziosi

Speaker Johnson ‘faces challengers’ in new year as anger grows in GOP over stop-gap bill

06:00 , Graig Graziosi

Mike Johnson could be challenged for the speaker’s chair in the new year as Republican critics draw up a list of potential replacements, according to reports.

Some rebels in his party are angry at his handling of the stop-gap bill to fund the federal government through March 14, dubbed a “dumpster fire” by some Republicans.

The bipartisan deal was struck on Tuesday evening and lawmakers have until Friday to approve new spending.

READ MORE

Johnson could be challenged for speaker role as alternatives ‘floated’

Elon Musk sees massive spike on Polymarket to be the next House speaker after lawmakers float idea

04:59 , Graig Graziosi

Billionaire Elon Musk saw a sharp 10 percent increase in his odds of being Speaker of the House on Polymarket, the crypto-based betting platform, after several lawmakers suggested him for the job.

Musk, who has quickly ascended as a close ally of Donald Trump, proved just how powerful political influence is this week when he managed to convince Republicans in Congress to oppose the bipartisan spending bill that, if passed, will prevent the government from shutting down.

Wielding his influence on the social media platform he owns, X, Musk sent out more than 150 posts urging Republicans to break from the bill backed by the current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

READ MORE:

Elon Musk sees spike on Polymarket to be the next House speaker

Vladimir Putin: Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war

04:00 , Graig Graziosi

During boasts about Russia’s military achievements in his annual marathon televised news conference, Vladimir Putin says he is ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks on ending his war and has no conditions for starting discussions.

The Russian president told one reporter he was ready to meet Donald Trump, who he said he had not spoken to for years.

The US president-elect has vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine war, without giving any details on how he might achieve that.

READ MORE:

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

Keir Starmer hits out at ‘dangers’ of tariffs in warning to Donald Trump

03:00 , Graig Graziosi

Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at the “dangers” of tariffs, putting the prime minister on a collision course with incoming US president Donald Trump.

The Labour leader said he was “not a fan” as he was grilled by MPs on the Commons Liaison Committee about how he plans to deal with the next occupant of the White House.

Experts have warned of a looming trade war after Mr Trump himself said: “Tariff is my favourite word.”

READ MORE:

Keir Starmer hits out at ‘dangers’ of tariffs in warning to Donald Trump

Speaker Mike Johnson says House vote is ‘very disappointing’

02:45 , Rhian Lubin

Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for the failed House vote said Republican leaders will find another way through.

“We will re-group and we will come up with another solution. So stay tuned,” Johnson told reporters tonight.

It’s very disappointing to us that all but two Democrats voted against aid to farmers and ranchers, against disaster relief, against all these bipartisan measures that had already been negotiated and decided upon.”

Trump celebrated the deal just hours ago

01:45 , Rhian Lubin

Donald Trump celebrated the deal just a few hours ago.

Read his Truth Social post in full.

JD Vance blasts Democrats for voting against the deal

01:30 , Rhian Lubin

JD Vance blasted Democrats after the House failed to avoid a government shutdown tonight, CNN reports.

“The Democrats just voted to shutdown the government even though we had a clean CR (continuing resolution), because they didn’t want to give the president negotiating leverage during his first term — the first year of his new term,” Vance said, according to CNN. “And number two because they would rather shut down the government and fight for global censorship b******t, they’ve asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get.”

The network reported that Vance did not respond when asked about the 38 Republicans who also voted against the bill.

Lawmakers regroup after House rejects Trump-backed plan on shutdown

01:15 , Rhian Lubin, AP

Minutes after Republicans’ plan to avert a shutdown and raise the debt ceiling failed in the House, congressional leaders regrouped to consider what to do next.

Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican leader, said they wouldn’t try to bring the bill back to the floor.

Meanwhile Rep. Chip Roy, who spearheaded Republican opposition to the bill, was defiant outside the chamber.“I’m ambitious to make sure that we actually cut spending. I’m ambitious to do what we said we would do,” he told reporters.

On the opposite side of the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said: “It’s a good thing the bill failed in the House, now it’s time to go back to the bipartisan agreement we came to.”

Elon Musk reacts to failed House vote

00:50 , Rhian Lubin

Elon Musk has reacted to the failed House vote tonight, blasting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Democrats tank ‘laughable’ Trump-approved spending deal

00:40 , Eric Garcia

News of a newly hashed-out deal arrived one day after the world’s wealthiest person and the incoming president commanded members of Congress to reject a bipartisan stop-gap funding bill as lawmakers prepared to vote.

“It’s not serious, it’s laughable. Extreme MAGA Republicans are steering us towards a government shutdown,” Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Thursday of the Trump-backed deal.

“It’s an absolute slap in the face,” Democratic congresswoman Jill Tokuda told The Independent. “It’s disgusting that they would try to use this as a tool to increase the debt limit for two years, which we know will ultimately result in tax credits for the uber wealthy on the backs of our working people.”

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Democrats tank ‘laughable’ Trump-approved spending deal with help from conservatives