Donald Trump Sets Impossible Bar for Kevin McCarthy on Debt-Limit Talks

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(Bloomberg) — Former President Donald Trump set an impossible hurdle for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in White House debt limit negotiations in a post on his Truth Social network.

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His 11:10 a.m. post Friday was timed minutes after key Republicans walked out of a meeting with White House negotiators saying they were unreasonable.

REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT DEAL ON THE DEBT CEILING UNLESS THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT (Including the kitchen sink). US DEMOCRATS ARE ALWAYS LIKE THAT. DON’T BREAK!!! Trump posted.

McCarthy told reporters that he talks to Trump often and credits Trump with helping him secure the final votes to win the speakership in January. He told reporters at the US Capitol that the government needs to spend less money next year.

Read more: McCarthy Puts Debt Limit Talks on Pause as Clock Counts Down

Trump has often criticized party leaders for cutting deals on the debt limit, even as he as president forged deals with Democrats toward a record $7.8 trillion increase in the national debt. However, the Democrats have not asked for everything they want in return, and there is no hope for the Senate or the White House to simply accept the demands of the Republicans this time.

Democrats and the White House say the speaker must compromise to get a bill through the Senate and signed into law. Before Friday, there were signs of progress and optimism that a deal could be reached quickly, allowing for a vote next week in the House.

Progressive Democrats are urging the White House to prepare to use the 14th Amendment to declare the debt limit unconstitutional if Republicans don’t back down on demands for steep domestic spending cuts.

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