GOP lawmaker snaps back at Trump after being to told to 'drop it' during tense meeting
May 21, 2025
Donald Trump's meeting with House Republicans in a basement room where the budget reconciliation bill is being hammered out did not go as smoothly as the president told reporters later in the day with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at his side.
After the meeting, Trump told reporters, "I think it was a really great; that was a meeting of love. Let me tell you, that was love in that room. There was no shouting. I think it was a meeting of love," before calling anyone who had a contrary opinion about what had ensued a "liar."
But on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," co-host Willie Geist reported that Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who has an eye on running for governor of his state, butted heads with the president over a proposal for a cap limit on state and local tax deductions only to have the president warn him to back off.
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With co-host Joe Scarborough claiming Trump will likely bring the GOP lawmakers to heel, Geist commented, "Yeah. President Trump is reported to have said in the room to Congressman Mike Lawler of New York, who has been pushing for a higher cap, like a lot of others [from] New York and some blue state Republicans, saying, 'Mike, drop it, just drop it.'"
"So after all that, we'll see if they drop it fully, but they may not get what they want, those Republicans," he added as his co-hosts laughed..
On Tuesday night, Lawler hit back.
With Trump reportedly telling the GOP lawmaker, "I know your district better than you do, if you lose because of SALT you were going to lose anyway,” Lawler fired back on Fox News, stating, "Here’s the truth. I’m one of only three Republicans that have won in a district that Kamala Harris won. So the fact is I know my district very well and there’s a reason why I’ve been successful.”
After proclaiming, "I respect the president," he served notice. "I’m not going to sacrifice my constituents, and throw them under the bus in a bad faith negotiation, which is what this has been by leadership and [House Ways and Means Chair] Jason Smith," he said.
He added, "The fact is that, in a district like mine, it is not the wealthy that I’m talking about. I’m talking about the cop and the teacher who are struggling under the crushing weight of the highest tax burden in America, and in New York."
You can watch the Morning Joe clip below:
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