Donald Trump’s plans have been called insane by Democratic lawmakers, but even Republicans have found them shocking, according to a new report.
From a proposal to turn the Gaza strip into a luxury motel to taking Greenland from our ally potentially using military force, Trump has caught the GOP by surprise, according to the Washington Post’s Saturday report.
“Trump’s ideas and plans — typically unveiled in social media posts or in offhand comments — have triggered anger and disbelief among Democrats, who have vowed to fight ‘illegal’ policies that they say will threaten America’s economy, its national security and its reputation,” according to the outlet. “But more often than not, the ideas have taken Republicans by surprise, too, sending congressional staff running to figure out Trump’s intentions.”
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The report notes that, while “some GOP lawmakers seem to first respond by pleading ignorance,” others simply “attempt to interpret.” As an example, the outlet quotes Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who responded to reporters asking about Trump’s Gaza plans by saying, “I think it’s just a way of starting a dialogue … a conversation starter.”
After being shocked by Trump, the GOP lawmakers tend to embrace his ideas, according to the report.
“And soon they champion the idea: After Trump’s statements about seizing Greenland and the Panama Canal, GOP lawmakers unveiled the ‘Panama Canal Repurchase Act of 2025,’ a resolution calling on Panama ‘ to expel ‘ Chinese officials, and a bill to ‘ Make Greenland Great Again .'”
Part of this response, according to WaPo, is due to an implicit fear of revenge.
“Overshadowing the race to gather information on Trump’s proposals — and respond accordingly — is an acute awareness among GOP lawmakers that the president and his supporters could exact political revenge [on] anyone who expresses dissent,” it reports. “And Republicans have hastened to fall in line .”
