“That Was a Meeting of Love”: Trump Denies Losing Patience Over GOP Budget Talks

President Donald Trump forcefully denied claims that he lost his temper during a closed-door meeting with the Republican House Caucus on Tuesday, where lawmakers discussed a contentious budget proposal that includes deep cuts to Medicaid and other public services.

Emerging from the Capitol Hill meeting, Trump addressed reporters and painted the gathering as harmonious and productive. “I think it was really great. That was a meeting of love, let me tell you. That was love in that room. There was no shouting,” Trump said. “I think it was a meeting of love. And there were a couple of things that we talked about specifically, where some people felt a little bit, one way or the other, not a big deal. And I covered them.”

However, when a reporter mentioned that a source claimed Trump had shown signs of frustration during the meeting, the former president’s tone quickly shifted.

“Who told you that? That’s a lie. Who told you I said I’m losing my patience?” Trump shot back, visibly irritated. The reporter responded, “Someone in the room.”

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute,” Trump said, raising his hands. “Who told you that?” “We heard from people inside the room,” the reporter reiterated.

Trump adamantly denied the report and questioned the credibility of the source. “Oh, really? That’s totally I never used the term. I never said — I didn’t even talk about it. In fact, it’s the opposite,” he insisted. “I think we’re going to get it done. I’m not losing patience. We’re ahead of schedule. Anybody that told you that is a liar.”

He continued, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. I never mentioned the word losing patience because I’m not losing patience. We’re ahead of schedule. That’s why I asked you. Why don’t you go back to your source and tell them they’re liars? If the source even exists.”

The tense exchange reflects the growing scrutiny over Trump’s role in pushing a GOP budget that faces backlash for slashing healthcare funding in order to pay for tax cuts—a move that has sparked division even within Republican ranks. Despite Trump’s insistence that the meeting was filled with “love,” questions remain about the tone behind closed doors and the challenges ahead in passing the legislation.

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