On Jan. 8, the House of Representatives tried—and failed—to override President Donald Trump’s vetoes of two bills, proving once again that a veto actually means something when it comes from a president who’s serious about governance. The first vote came in at 236–188, and the second at 248–177. Neither reached the two-thirds threshold required, so Trump’s vetoes remain firmly in place. Math can be stubborn like that.
These were the first two vetoes of Trump’s second term, issued on Dec. 31, 2025. One bill sought to designate a site in Everglades National Park as part of the Miccosukee Indian Reservation, while the other aimed to finance a pipeline project intended to deliver water to tens of thousands of people in Colorado.
The Florida legislation was tied to a $14 million project to protect Osceola Camp in Everglades National Park, home to members of the Miccosukee tribe. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), a Trump-endorsed lawmaker—proof that support doesn’t mean a blank check. In his veto message, Trump criticized the tribe, stating that “The Miccosukee Tribe has actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected.” Apparently, elections still matter.
The tribe had opposed Trump’s plan to build a makeshift detention facility for illegal immigrants in the region, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” which was later ordered closed by a federal judge.
The second veto involved the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, which had passed Congress unanimously. The bill was designed to fund a long-running project to bring safe drinking water to 39 communities in eastern Colorado, where groundwater contains high salt levels and, at times, radiation from wells. In his veto letter, Trump said he was protecting taxpayers from “expensive and unreliable policies,” citing a potential long-term cost of $1.3 billion—because fiscal responsibility isn’t optional, no matter how popular a bill might be.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), the bill’s sponsor, pushed back, saying the cost estimates were misrepresented to the president. She expressed frustration and argued that the project was fiscally conservative. After the vote, Boebert said she was disappointed that only 35 lawmakers supported overriding the veto, adding that some colleagues were afraid of political backlash—yes, even a “mean tweet.”
Democrats noticed the tension as well. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) said he was surprised the bill even made it to the floor, noting that Republicans opposing Trump is not exactly an everyday occurrence.
Boebert later acknowledged that Trump has legitimate frustrations with Colorado, calling it a sanctuary state—an assessment the Democratic governor disputes. She also pointed out that many of the people affected by the water issues voted for Trump in the 2024 election, a reminder of where the political loyalties lie.
Trump has also clashed with Colorado over the case of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who received a nine-year sentence for giving unauthorized access to voting machines after the 2020 election. Peters said her actions were meant to expose voter fraud, and Trump issued a federal pardon for her despite her conviction on state charges.
The last time Congress successfully overrode a presidential veto was back on Jan. 1, 2021. This time, Trump held the line—standing firm on immigration enforcement and fiscal discipline. Love him or hate him, President Trump continues to do what he was elected to do: put taxpayers and the rule of law first, and do it with confidence.
