FOX FIRST: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott (RS.C.) explains how Republicans plan major legislation before sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk during the critical budget reconciliation process. I am not involved in the details of whether the information is compiled accurately.
“I think the outcome is more important to us than the process,” he said in an exclusive interview after meeting with President Trump and Republican leaders in the House and Senate.
“And if that requires border security, tax reform, deportations, whatever we can put in a package, or packages, we can get results for our people. I have to,” he explained.
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Sen. Tim Scott will serve as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2026 cycle. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The advantage of the budget reconciliation process is that it lowers the threshold for ending debate in the Senate and allows Republicans to break the filibuster with just conference support rather than the usual 60 votes. However, the use of this process is limited and must not include what is considered an “irrelevant provision.”
“I’m not privy to the process,” Scott said. This is a departure from the attitude of House Republican leaders, who have insisted on fitting everything into one metric.
The South Carolina Republican joined other members of the Senate Republican leadership and members of his party in the House of Representatives in a meeting with President Trump on Tuesday.
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Republicans still don’t necessarily agree on budget reconciliation. (Reuters)
He said that despite reports that they had agreed on a certain approach to reconciliation, “there was no objective of reaching an agreement on a settlement.” “I see this inaugural press conference as an opportunity to recognize that President Trump is the visionary leader we need.”
He acknowledged that budget adjustments were discussed, “but the important thing is that the goal of establishing a one-team approach to the problems we need to solve for the American people has been achieved. President Trump has made it clear that this is not our problem.” ”
Asked whether that meant the approach to the reconciliation process had not yet been determined or was subject to change, Scott said: “It depends on who you’re talking to. ” he said.
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Sen. Tim Scott (center) and other Republican leaders met with President Donald Trump (left) on Tuesday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He noted that House Republican leadership did emphasize “the importance of a big, beautiful bill.”
“I think the House definitely sees a path to one big, beautiful bill and has the votes to do it. That’s what the House is about.”
But Scott said whether it’s one bill or two, “I think there’s still room to find a path to victory.”
Many Senate Republicans generally support creating two separate budget reconciliation bills, one for the border and one for taxes.
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United States Capitol Building. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
As for whether joint meetings between Republican leaders and the president will become a regular occurrence, Scott said, “I certainly hope so.”
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“I think one of the things we really have to appreciate about President Trump is that he wants results, which means we all need to do the same thing as often as possible, at the same time, so that there are no differences. In our understanding, there is no light of day between us. ”
It’s still unclear how the reconciliation bill will take shape, but the South Carolina senator said the president wants to pass reconciliation as soon as possible.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
