A senior White House official said that although the passage of this large-scale bill highlights the president's political influence within his party, Trump did not “threaten to challenge” any member of Congress in exchange for their votes to support his overall domestic policy agenda. “I think the President has always retained his political prerogatives. The president did not threaten to challenge the primary election as a means of gaining support votes. Lawmakers clearly understand the president's political influence, and in the end, they hope the president's political influence can be used for themselves,” a senior White House official told reporters shortly after the bill was passed. The official continued: “The President has always retained his political prerogatives, but he has endorsed the re-election of several members of parliament. It is expected that in the coming weeks and months, he will also endorse more members of parliament. And for those lawmakers who choose not to endorse, we will let the process proceed naturally.”

A senior White House official said that although the passage of this large-scale bill highlights the president's political influence within his party, Trump did not “threaten to challenge” any member of Congress in exchange for their votes to support his overall domestic policy agenda. “I think the President has always retained his political prerogatives. The president did not threaten to challenge the primary election as a means of gaining support votes. Lawmakers clearly understand the president's political influence, and in the end, they hope the president's political influence can be used for themselves,” a senior White House official told reporters shortly after the bill was passed. The official continued: “The President has always retained his political prerogatives, but he has endorsed the re-election of several members of parliament. It is expected that in the coming weeks and months, he will also endorse more members of parliament. And for those lawmakers who choose not to endorse, we will let the process proceed naturally.”