https://www.mediaite.com/politics/i-have-more-power-now-trump-on-his-grip-over-the-gop-compared-to-his-first-term/

>President Donald Trump spoke to the press on Thursday following the House’s passing of his “Big, Beautiful” tax and spending bill and took a victory lap, offering praise for Republicans in both chambers of Congress who eventually bent to his will.

>“And by the way, on the Senate side, I thought Senator Thune did a fantastic job,” Trump said as he offered praise to GOP leadership.

>A reporter then asked Trump about the “power you have amassed within your party compared to your first term?”

>“I think I have more power now. I do,” Trump replied, adding, “You know, I could say, ‘Oh gee, I don’t know.’ I think I probably do because we’ve had a great record of success. You know, my first term was very, very successful. We had the greatest economy in the history of our country. I think we’re going to blow it away this term.”

>“But you know, we’ve proven certain things, and yeah, I think probably it’s got more gravitas, more power,” Trump said. Trump attacked several members of his own party as the bill made its way through Congress. He repeatedly slammed what he called “grandstanders” who publicly refused to support the bill for the trillions it adds to the national debt over time.

>Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who voted against the bill, announced he would not seek reelection after being on the receiving end of an attack from Trump. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is already being hit with attack ads from a pro-Trump PAC, after Trump promised to primary Massie and get him “fired.”

>Later in his exchange with the press, Trump discussed the bill’s signing on Friday. “ So we’re signing at about five o’clock, and at about 5 o’clock, we’re going to have B-2s and F-22s and F-35s flying right over the White House. And the Speaker and I and John Thune, we are all there together with most—I think most—Republican senators and congressmen and women, and it’s going to be a great day. So we’ll be signing with those beautiful planes flying right over our heads, all right?”

Reporter asks Trump on his grip over the GOP compared to his first term: “I think I have more power now. I do. I think we’re going to blow it away this term. But you know, we’ve proven certain things, and yeah, I think probably it’s got more gravitas, more power."