Trump horrifies GOP leadership by demanding the tax legislation be called 'The Cut Cut Cut Act'


Everyone should have learned the lesson about unreservedly allowing people to name things back with Boaty McBoatface, but House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) apparently didn't get the memo. A House aide told ABC News on Wednesday that Ryan asked President Trump to name the GOP tax plan, which is due to be released Thursday — but Trump came back with "The Cut Cut Cut Act."
Naturally, everyone hates it. "Ryan and [House Ways and Means Committee Chairman] Kevin Brady have pushed back on the naming of the bill," ABC News writes. "However, Trump has held firm."
Trump also said Wednesday — the day the bill was supposed to be released, before being postponed 24 hours — that Republicans should make a last-minute change to address an Affordable Care Act fix. "Wouldn't it be great to repeal the very unfair and unpopular individual mandate in ObamaCare and use those savings for further tax cuts," Trump pondered on Twitter.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump added that he would "be blaming" Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn if the tax plan fails. "Believe me, they'll be hearing from me," Trump joked, miming making what one can only imagine would be a very miserable phone call. Watch some of his comments below via The Washington Post. Jeva Lange
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The Supreme Court and Congress have Planned Parenthood in their crosshairs
Talking Points Budget bill, ruling threaten abortion access
-
Musk chatbot Grok praises Hitler on X
Speed Read Grok made antisemitic comments and referred to itself as 'MechaHitler'
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities