'Never-ending chaos': Ex-GOP lawmaker says Musk and Trump on a 'collision course'
A Republican former lawmaker said Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk appear to be on a "collision course" and warned Americans that another close adviser of Trump's is promising "never-ending chaos."
Former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) told CNN anchor Jake Tapper on "The Lead" that Steve Bannon is "essentially promising never-ending chaos."
"If you think the last 48 hours has been unique, every day coming in, when President Trump takes over, is going to be like this. Particularly as Elon [Musk] tries to make these type of cuts and President Trump tries to reorganize the government. He's going to get it on the right track and save the country," Bannon said earlier.
Dent pointed out that Republicans need bipartisanship in the house — they don't have enough votes on their own to pass a spending bill or to raise the debt ceiling, either now or in the next Congress.
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"We all know this. That's why there have to be conversations with the Democrats. Because they need the Democrats to vote for these things and therefore they're going to expect things in these bills," he said.
Dent said he's unsure what Bannon is talking about, and noted hardline Republicans and Trump himself insisted on not completing the appropriations bills — all 12 of them — before Christmas.
"They said kick it into the New Year," said Dent. "Well, they got their wish."
Then the GOP-led spending bill imploded. Any conversations about raising the debt ceiling, he said, needed to happen closer to the election.
"I think what what Steve Bannon is promising is never-ending chaos and disfunction. And I'm not so sure the American people will be up for it," he said.
Dent later said he suspects Trump and Musk are on a "collision course."
"It was Elon Musk who really tanked the bipartisan compromise," said Dent. "And then Donald Trump belatedly jumped in with an assist. And I can't imagine Donald Trump is too happy that Musk is out there kind of directing Congress to do something without his knowledge, apparently."
Watch the clip below or at this link.