Trump Issues First Vetoes of Second Term/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump issued his first vetoes of his second term, rejecting two bipartisan bills related to infrastructure and tribal land. Trump said the vetoes were necessary to protect taxpayers from excessive government spending. Critics accused the president of political retaliation, particularly regarding a Colorado water project.
Trump First Vetoes of Second Term Quick Looks
- President Trump vetoed two bipartisan bills on infrastructure and tribal land.
- One bill, H.R. 131, aimed to lower payments for a Colorado water pipeline.
- The second, H.R. 504, would have expanded land for the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida.
- Trump cited fiscal responsibility and waste reduction as reasons for the vetoes.
- Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet called the move “a revenge tour.”
- The vetoes come amid Trump’s feud with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
- Trump continues to advocate for Tina Peters, a pardoned 2020 election denier.
- The White House has also moved to close a key research center in Colorado.
- Congress can override the vetoes with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
- Rep. Lauren Boebert, the bill’s sponsor, vowed to continue the fight.
Trump Issues First Vetoes of Second Term
Deep Look
President Donald Trump issued his first vetoes of his second term on Tuesday, rejecting two bipartisan bills and reigniting political tensions with lawmakers in Colorado and Florida. Both bills received bipartisan support in Congress, but Trump defended his decisions as essential steps to curb unnecessary government spending.
The two vetoed measures — H.R. 131 and H.R. 504 — dealt with regional infrastructure and Native American tribal land, respectively. In a message to Congress, Trump framed the actions as a fiscal safeguard, saying:
“Enough is enough. My Administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies. Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts and restoring fiscal sanity is vital to economic growth and the fiscal health of the Nation.”
H.R. 131 would have reduced payment obligations for certain communities in Colorado related to the construction of a water pipeline. H.R. 504 sought to expand the land reserved for the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida and directed the Department of the Interior to work with the tribe to address potential flooding issues in the newly acquired territory.
While both bills passed with bipartisan support, Trump’s veto of H.R. 131 sparked particular backlash from Colorado lawmakers, who view the action as politically motivated.
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado criticized the president sharply on social media, writing: “This isn’t governing. It’s a revenge tour. It’s unacceptable.”
The accusation stems from a broader feud between Trump and Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis, who has refused to release Tina Peters — a former election official and vocal 2020 election denier — from state custody. Earlier this month, Trump granted Peters a full federal pardon. However, that action does not affect her state convictions. Governor Polis has stated that the matter is in the hands of the courts.
On Wednesday morning, Trump renewed his call for Peters’ release on Truth Social, again attacking Governor Polis and referring to the local district attorney involved in the case as a “disgusting ‘Republican’ (RINO!).”
The Trump administration also recently announced plans to close a key federal research center in Colorado, a move the White House suggested was aimed at Governor Polis. The closure was widely criticized by Colorado officials, who viewed it as part of a pattern of targeted retaliation.
Congress still has the option to override the vetoes with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. It remains unclear whether lawmakers will pursue that route, particularly given the narrow margins and ongoing partisan divides.
Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican and close Trump ally who sponsored H.R. 131, expressed disappointment in the decision but signaled that the issue is far from resolved. “This isn’t over,” Boebert wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Although Boebert has largely supported the president during both terms, there have been moments of disagreement. Recently, she pushed back on Trump’s initial resistance to releasing records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ultimately, Trump signed the bipartisan bill requiring release of the documents, which the Justice Department published earlier this month, albeit with significant redactions.
As Trump begins his second term, the vetoes mark a signal of continued assertiveness in his approach to executive authority, fiscal policy, and political loyalty. The administration’s moves suggest that regional disputes and personal grievances may continue to influence national policy decisions, particularly in battleground states.
Trump’s second-term vetoes come at a time when the national political environment remains deeply polarized. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the fallout from these decisions — both fiscal and political — is likely to shape debate on Capitol Hill and in communities across the country.
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