President-elect Donald Trump met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday night in a bid to unite the GOP around his ambitious agenda, as party leaders remain divided over the best strategy to push through key legislative priorities. The meeting, held at the U.S. Capitol, revealed a split between House and Senate Republicans on whether to bundle Trump’s policies into one comprehensive bill or divide them into two separate packages.
House Republicans are pushing for a single-bill approach, arguing that it would streamline the process and ensure all priorities are addressed simultaneously. In contrast, Senate Republicans prefer splitting the agenda into two bills—one focusing on immigration and energy policies, and another tackling tax reforms—to avoid delaying progress on less contentious issues.
Trump signaled flexibility during the meeting, expressing openness to either strategy while emphasizing the importance of results. “We’re looking at the one bill versus two bills, and whatever it is doesn’t matter. We’re going to get the result, and we’re going to make America great again,” he told reporters before entering the Capitol.
Accompanied by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Trump was joined by his wife, Melania Trump, and incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The visit also included a stop at the Rotunda, where Trump paid his respects to the late President Jimmy Carter, who lay in state.
During the meeting, Trump outlined several bold proposals, including his controversial plan to annex Greenland, the use of tariffs to fund his priorities, and a series of executive orders related to immigration that he plans to sign on his first day in office.
“You heard him say in his press conference that he’s going to shut the border down. He has the ability through immediate actions of executive orders and other things,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V. “He’s concerned about the safety of the country and what he sees going on with illegal immigration.”
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., highlighted Trump’s call for unity among Republicans. “He asked that we all be on the same page and that it’s time to get things done. So work together and actually accomplish something,” she said.
The disagreement between House and Senate Republicans centers on the practicality of passing Trump’s agenda. With a narrow 220-215 majority in the House, GOP leaders fear that splitting the priorities into two bills could lead to gridlock, as even a small group of dissenting Republicans could derail key legislation. Senate Republicans, however, argue that separating the policies would allow for faster action on less controversial items while giving lawmakers more time to navigate complex tax debates.
“Taxes are going to spark a fight in Congress and take some time,” explained a GOP senator. “That’s why we want to move first on immigration and the nation’s energy industry.”
The choice between a single-bill and two-bill strategy is expected to have significant implications for how much of Trump’s agenda can be accomplished within his first 100 days in office. Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune are tasked with finding common ground to advance the president-elect’s vision.
Trump’s meeting with Senate Republicans is part of a broader effort to align the party ahead of his inauguration. Additional meetings with House Republicans are planned for the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate. These discussions aim to resolve disagreements and establish a unified approach to tackling Trump’s legislative goals.
For Trump, securing party unity is critical to maintaining momentum during the early days of his presidency. The slim GOP majority in the House leaves little room for error, with just a handful of dissenters capable of blocking key initiatives.
As Trump continues to rally lawmakers, the focus remains on balancing urgency with the realities of the legislative process. Whether Republicans opt for a single-bill or two-bill strategy, the coming weeks will test their ability to deliver on Trump’s promises and set the tone for his administration.
The stakes are high, and the path forward will depend on the GOP’s ability to overcome internal divisions and present a united front. With Trump actively engaging congressional leaders, the groundwork is being laid for a decisive push to enact his agenda.
