Republicans in Congress are clashing over President Trump’s tax cuts, and Texas Rep. Chip Roy is leading the charge to rein in federal spending. While Trump wants to extend his 2017 tax cuts and add new breaks for tips and seniors, Roy insists lawmakers can’t keep writing blank checks. He’s pushing to slash wasteful programs first, warning that trillions in tax cuts without cuts elsewhere will bury future generations in debt.
Roy isn’t backing down, even as some GOP leaders call him a “problem child.” He argues Trump’s agenda is being hijacked by Washington insiders who want to keep fattening the budget. “The swamp wants to use the president to do swamp things,” Roy said. He’s demanding billions in cuts to green energy subsidies and other Biden-era programs before signing off on tax relief.
The numbers are brutal. Extending Trump’s existing tax cuts could add $37 trillion to the national debt over 30 years. Roy says that’s unacceptable, and he’s rallying conservatives to hold the line. “Don’t bull*t the American people with campaign pledges and then do something different,” he warned. Many Republicans agree, with 37 House members joining him to block a debt ceiling hike last year.
President Trump’s team thinks Roy is all talk. After Roy opposed a key spending deal, Trump blasted him on social media. But Roy didn’t fold. He told Trump directly that lawmakers “can’t deliver the undeliverable” and pushed for honest budgeting. Some allies say Roy’s stubbornness actually helps Trump by keeping the party focused on fiscal sanity.
Medicaid and food stamps are in Roy’s crosshairs. He wants major cuts to these programs to offset tax breaks, but Democrats are screaming. They claim it’ll hurt the poor, while Roy fires back that bloated welfare spending only fuels dependency. “We need to stop writing checks we can’t cash,” he said. The fight could decide whether Trump’s tax plan survives.
Average families could save $1,700 a year if tax cuts stay, but Roy says that’s meaningless if the country goes broke. He wants tax relief paired with sharp budget knives. While Trump dreams of a “big, beautiful bill,” Roy’s crew wants proof the math adds up. “Show me the spending cuts, or no deal,” he said.
Democrats are howling, calling the GOP plan a giveaway to the rich. They’re clinging to Biden’s “green energy” subsidies, which Roy calls a scam. “These programs just line the pockets of coastal elites,” he said. Republicans like Roy argue that Trump’s plan will help workers—if the party doesn’t chicken out on cuts.
This showdown isn’t just about taxes. It’s about whether the GOP still believes in balanced budgets. Roy represents a new wave of Republicans who’d rather fight than fold. As the debt clock ticks, all eyes are on whether Trump can cut a deal—or if fiscal hawks like Roy will ground his agenda.
