The debt ceiling deal shows the impotence of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement

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I have bad news for the people who have invested bright red Make America Great Again hats and devoted years of their lives into what former President Donald Trump is commonly calling the largest political movement in our nation’s history.

The MAGA movement, with each passing day, appears smaller and less powerful. Its powerful but ineffective, capable of creating chaos but incapable of success.

The recent deal-ceiling deal reached between President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy perfectly describes MAGA as all-holler/no-action status.

Kevin McCarthy easily crossed MAGA’s debt-ceiling red line

This is a none-shall-pass for far-right Republicans in Congress, an opportunity to use the threat of economic disaster that would accompany the default to undo everything that Big Bad Biden accomplished as president, to cut spending on the bone and poke holes in the safety net.

I’m telling the Republicans out there congressmen, senators if they’re not going to give you massive cuts, you’re going to have to default,” Trump said during a CNN town hall.

Former President Donald Trump speaks on June 01, 2023 in Grimes, Iowa.

Republican Rep. said. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, chair of the Republican Study Committee told Axios that he agreed with Trump. And said Rep. Ralph Norman of North Carolina: Either they agree to the cuts, which are moderate, or they take responsibility for whatever happens.

The Republican Party’s debt threats met with Dark Brandon

McCarthy gave in to MAGA’s demands and initially crafted a debt-ceiling bill that would undo much of what Biden had accomplished in his first two years. It was a completely unreasonable proposal, aimed at appeasing the extremes of McCarthy’s own party.

But the speaker’s final deal with Biden was nowhere near what MAGA lawmakers wanted.

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The original bill called for a 10-year cap on spending, with draconian cuts to non-defense spending. The final deal puts minor spending restraints in place for the next two years. They want strict (and unnecessary) work requirements on SNAP recipients and people on Medicaid. Medicaid has not been touched, and the dynamics of changing work requirements for SNAP recipients, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, will actually increase government spending on food stamps.

The story continues

The original bill cut $80 billion allocated to the IRS over a decade, part of the Bidens Inflation Reduction Act. Only $10 billion per year over two years was cut from the final deal.

Debt-ceiling deal ‘ridiculous’ and ‘a bunch of fake news’

Prominent MAGA-enthusiastic folks resent the agreement.

Before the vote, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said the bill is a bunch of fake news and fake talking points that will do nothing to reign in out-of-control federal spending. Rep. called it. Arizona’s Andy Biggs was a ridiculous, short-term deal that was one of the biggest abominations he had ever seen.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the MAGA-aligned Freedom Caucus, said: The Republican conference right now is torn. Not one Republican should vote for this deal not one.

In the House, 149 Republicans voted in favor of the deal, 68% of the chamber’s GOP members.

Whomp-whomp.

What happened? Republicans not fully aligned with Trump and his MAGA movement did their jobs and voted for a bill that got them some of what they wanted and saved the global economy from collapse.

MAGA is clamoring for the debt-ceiling deal, as usual

Trump loyalist Steve Bannon said on his podcast that Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came out of the debt ceiling deal as the man. Bannon called Jeffries the true majority leader and used somewhat derogatory words for McCarthy.

Steve Bannon during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 3, 2023.

But again, MAGA is talk. They won’t be able to kick McCarthy out as speaker. How they couldn’t stop Biden from overwhelmingly winning the debt fight. Just like they didn’t help the Republicans achieve a red wave in the midterm elections, or help Trump win the 2020 presidential election.

Even Texas Republicans ignored a threat from Trump

Speaking of the former president, when Texas Republicans decided to impeach the states attorney general, hardcore Trump-backer Ken Paxton, Trump rushed to the Paxtons’ defense and threatened any state Republicans who dared to cross to him: I hope Republicans in the Texas House agree that this is a very unfair process that should not be allowed to happen or continue. I will fight you if this happens.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.

Not long after that threat, the Republican-controlled Texas House voted overwhelmingly 121 to 23 to impeach Paxton. Apparently they weren’t scared, and they shouldn’t have been.

Let’s stop treating Trump and MAGA as a powerful force

MAGA, as a movement, has more than proven to be a paper tiger. A strong one, for sure. One that can stir up all kinds of dust and threats and relentless accusations. But a paper tiger nonetheless.

It’s time for Republicans and the rest of us to stop fearing Trump and his delusionally loyal fan base, with their red hats and loud chants and cult-like obsession with a man who, because they is a sad day to learn, they don’t care.

The power of MAGA is a mirage. That’s why McCarthy hedged his bets and made a deal with Biden. He knows he can beat Trumps toadies.

And that’s exactly what he did.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Twitter @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden scores victory over Trump’s MAGA movement with debt settlement

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