Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) suggested Wednesday that the ongoing spending battle in the House is being waged among Republicans, saying "I'm just gonna sit back."
“We’re looking at this like, this is their problem,” Crockett told MSNBC's Alex Wagner. “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,” Crockett added later in the interview. “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.”
Allies of President-elect Trump criticized a large stopgap funding bill negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that would keep the government open until at least mid-March. Tech billionaire Elon Musk — whom Trump tapped to serve on an advisory board looking to cut federal spending — lashed out at the continuing resolution, calling it a "piece of pork."
“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk wrote on the social platform X.
Trump later weighed in on the deal in a statement alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance, saying it should be shot down.
“Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025,” the statement reads. “The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country. Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH.”
In her Wednesday night appearance on MSNBC, Crockett said the "lack of cohesiveness" on her GOP colleagues' side is why "this has been the most unproductive Congress."
“They don't understand how to govern, and honestly, they don't even have a will to govern,” she added later.
Johnson is also under the weight of an upcoming Speaker vote — and many Republicans have begun to waver in their support of the Louisiana Republican. He may now have to look at a plan B for keeping the government funded as Friday's deadline looms.
The president-elect told Fox News Digital on Thursday morning that Johnson could retain the gavel, but he will need to get "tougher" on spending.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team, House Republican Conference and Vance’s office for comment.
