Even before taking office, Donald Trump is already creating difficulties for the Republican Party.

Recently, there was an agreement between Republicans and Democrats to fund the government and prevent a shutdown, but that accord collapsed as Trump and his allies pressured Republicans to revise it.

A further attempt to reach an agreement on Thursday was unsuccessful, with 38 Republicans voting against the new proposal supported by Trump.

The deadline to prevent a government shutdown is midnight Friday, and failing to pass a funding bill could lead to serious consequences for the GOP.

A government shutdown would bode poorly for Trump’s second term

Trump will not officially take office until mid-January, which usually encourages incoming presidents to avoid creating major issues in advance of their term. However, as has been observed, Trump often disregards this norm.

If a shutdown occurs, particularly due to Trump’s dismantling of a bipartisan agreement, the Republican Party will shoulder the blame.

A shutdown couldn’t come at a worse time. Such closures prevent federal employees from receiving paychecks until the government reopens, which can lead to staffing shortages in various agencies. One notably affected agency could be the Transportation Security Administration, potentially resulting in significant travel delays during the holiday season.

Perception plays a critical role in politics, and if Republicans fail to keep the government operational this holiday season under Trump’s guidance, it will further reinforce the belief among Americans that the GOP is incapable of effective leadership.

The last time Republicans had complete control, they were unable to fund the government before the Christmas break in 2018, resulting in the longest shutdown in U.S. history—lasting 35 days—until the new Congress took office that January.

Now, another potential shutdown looms just as Republicans are about to regain control of the House, Senate, and presidency.

Yet, this control may not solve the underlying issues, especially since only 172 Republicans and two Democrats supported the latest Trump-backed bill.

This rift among Republican members means that different factions must be willing to compromise since they cannot rely on Democrats for any last-minute help.

MAGA Republicans are pushing themselves into a difficult situation

While many politicians are typically keen to avoid a government shutdown, certain members of the MAGA movement appear unconcerned about the consequences for the American public.

For example, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed on X, “The government can shut down all the way until January 20th as far as I’m concerned.”

It is baffling why Republicans would prefer to delay funding until after Trump’s inauguration, especially since the new administration may not be more amenable to MAGA’s agenda than the current one.

Furthermore, the recent failure of the bill to garner support among House Republicans raises questions about Trump’s strategy in undermining an established funding proposal, exposing his party to potential backlash.

In the past, failure to address essential issues such as government funding led to significant struggles for Republican lawmakers, which played a pivotal role in the loss of voter trust. Their inability to effectively govern contributed to Democrats’ perception as the “adults in the room” and led to a shift in voter support following that period.

Republicans should address their internal challenges and demonstrate that they can handle essential responsibilities required to keep the government operational. If they fail to do this, it will cause skepticism about their ability to manage the government effectively before they even get started.