Trump Draws Hard Line with GOP as Early Vetoes Signal White House Muscle
President blocks two bipartisan bills backed by fellow Republicans, testing Congress’ willingness to challenge him in Trump 2.0
President Donald Trump issued the first vetoes of his second term late Tuesday, rejecting two bipartisan, Republican-led bills and underscoring growing friction between the White House and Capitol Hill. The move stalls measures sponsored by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), and sets up an early test of whether Congress will attempt — and can muster — the two-thirds majorities needed to override him.
Trump vetoed a Colorado water infrastructure bill (HR 131) that would have extended repayment terms and removed interest for local users of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, arguing it would shift excessive costs onto federal taxpayers.
He also rejected a Florida land measure (HR 504) expanding the Miccosukee Reservation in Everglades National Park, explicitly citing the tribe’s opposition to his immigration policies as a reason for the veto.
Both bills had cleared the House and Senate by unanimous consent or voice vote, signaling broad bipartisan support and highlighting the president’s willingness to overrule consensus legislation. Boebert vowed the fight would continue, while Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D) characterized the action as part of a “revenge tour.”
The vetoes come amid widening strains between Trump and Republicans on issues ranging from foreign policy — particularly Russia/Ukraine diplomacy — to visas for high-skilled workers and marijuana policy. The rift has been sharpened by Trump’s break with former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has become an outspoken critic after losing his endorsement.
Taken together, the early vetoes signal a more confrontational posture toward Congress in Trump’s second term, with policy disputes — and loyalty tests — likely to intensify in the new year.
