| President Donald Trump sat down with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) Tuesday for their first discussion since Republicans formally took power in Washington. The meeting came before the full leadership team of each chamber entered the Oval Office to discuss enacting Trump’s ambitious agenda that is set to address border security, energy and tax revisions. On top of that, Hill Republicans must muscle the agenda, and meet deadlines to lift the debt ceiling and fund the government through their narrow majorities. “Promises made, promises kept,” Trump repeated frequently, stressing to leaders in the meeting that he doesn’t care how his agenda becomes law, just that it must, a person familiar with the meeting told our colleague Marianna Sotomayor. Johnson sat to Trump’s left and Thune to his right, and both Hill leaders often acknowledged where they agreed but pointed out where their colleagues could make passage of certain policies difficult. No major breakthroughs were made. Rather, the meeting was described more like a first date: casual, lively, respectful and light on the details to play it safe. There would definitely be a second date, the person said. It was a different reception than just eight years earlier when House and Senate Republican leadership were icy and skeptical of the new outsider president. But now, Trump knows he has a loyal GOP Congress behind him, and leaders are ready to push ahead with his vision. Still, there seemed to be some differences on the post-meeting playback. Johnson told reporters he is personally working on a “one-bill strategy” to pass Trump’s policy agenda, something House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) seemed to suggest Senate Republicans were on board for, which would represent a breakthrough as senators were hoping to split priorities into two separate legislative packages. Thune’s comments made it sound less cut and dry. “There are lots of great theories” about what to do, Thune said in response to the claim. Others familiar with the meeting also noted that no agreement — nor directive — was made on the one- versus two-bill approach, with leaders recognizing it is something Thune and Johnson will have to hash out. Johnson later told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Republican leaders were unified, emphasizing how in sync the group was by having them sit around him and Hannity as they discussed the meeting with Trump. “We talked about the agenda,” Johnson said. “We talked about the importance of unity.” So far, Trump has stuck by Johnson’s approach to passing his agenda. A major reason is the relationship the two have formed since Johnson became the speaker 15 months ago. Though both chambers have narrow majorities, Trump has come to understand that House Republicans are more divided on policy issues than senators. It potentially makes Johnson the most important player in ensuring Trump’s agenda becomes law. “It has taken time for Trump to recognize that Johnson’s frank assessments of where the ideologically divided conference stands are a sign of pragmatic — not weak — leadership, according to lawmakers and advisers,” our colleagues Marianna and Jacqueline Alemany report. Three key moments have helped Trump realize that not all House Republicans would back him, all outcomes Johnson advised were possibilities: - Republicans voting against Trump’s idea to attach a voter ID bill known as the SAVE Act to fund the government in September, leading Trump to back off encouraging lawmakers to shut down the government.
- Republicans voting against his demand to attach raising the debt ceiling to a government funding bill in December.
- Republicans still withholding their vote for Johnson for speaker after his endorsement.
Several House Republicans who have witnessed Johnson in an advising role say he is incapable of lying and his lawyerly background brings him armed with facts to a negotiation. “Mike is just a really good, decent person, and he’s credible. When he looks at me in the eye and says something, I believe him,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Florida) said about Johnson’s effectiveness. “When a large number of Republicans … [voted against Trump], the president said, ‘oh you were right, you told me.’” | 
Meryl Kornfield and 
