Donald Trump had a warning to Democrats. Soon he will decide what 'Democrat agencies' he would cut and whether those reductions would be temporary or permanent. He said the government shutdown, which began on Tuesday, had afforded him an 'unprecedented opportunity'.
'I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame,' he posted on his Truth Social website on Thursday morning.
Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, may not be a household name. But Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for governing put together primarily by former Trump officials like Vought when the Republicans were out of power, featured prominently during last year's presidential campaign.
The 900-page policy document contained proposals for dramatic reductions in the size of federal government, expanded presidential authority, rigorous immigration enforcement, a nationwide abortion ban, and other elements of an ultra-conservative social agenda.
Now, Trump is using the conservative blueprint as a threat to push Democrats into agreeing to his budgetary demands, and he has characterized Vought as a kind of budgetary angel of death, ready to cut federal programs that are vital to Democrats.
In case that metaphor wasn't clear, on Thursday night Trump shared an AI-generated parody music video on Truth Social with Vought portrayed as the grim reaper, set to altered lyrics of Blue Oyster Cult's 'Don't Fear the Reaper.'
Republican leaders have echoed Trump's characterization of Vought as the heavy in the White House. Vought, who has significant experience with the federal budget, had previously expressed ambitions to eliminate what he refers to as the 'deep state.'
Trump has threatened to implement far-reaching cuts during the shutdown while avoiding legislative checks. By doing so, he aims to reclaim the narrative and press Democrats into submission on budgetary issues, all while addressing concerns about the political implications of such cuts.
Amid the chaos, Trump's approach has raised eyebrows even among some Republicans, who fear the public backlash that could follow a lengthy shutdown paired with drastic budget cuts.
According to budget commentators like Richard Stern, both Vought and Trump view these actions as necessary responses to what they perceive as impending bankruptcy for the country, prioritizing fiscal prudence over immediate political consequences.
