Rep. Roger Williams says House will back giving Trump latitude on conflicts, defends DHS funding and doubts Tallarico's prospects

Texas Rep. Roger Williams said he expects the House to support a measure that would give President Trump room to conduct U.S. military operations, defended moving a new Department of Homeland Security funding bill and dismissed the Democratic nominee in a Texas race as unlikely to win.

“I think we're gonna, vote to give president Trump the latitude he needs to run this conflict that we have going on right now across the the world, actually,” Williams said when asked about the Senate's recent vote and the House's expected action. He characterized the Senate decision as the right one.

On DHS funding, Williams said the agency must be funded and emphasized that some components already have their own funding streams: “ICE is already funded,” he said, adding that withholding funds can be equivalent to holding other agencies “hostage.” He said the House will “vote it on it again, and we'll pass it again.”

Turning to Texas politics, Williams called presidential endorsements “powerful” and described Senators John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton as longtime acquaintances who would both make “great” senators. Asked whether the Democratic nominee James Tallarico could flip a seat, Williams said repeatedly that Tallarico “has no shot,” citing what he described as policy positions that would not play well in Texas.

The interview was conducted by two program hosts and concluded without formal votes or new legislative actions recorded during the segment. Williams' remarks indicate how he expects House Republicans to proceed on the day’s pending measures and reflect confidence about Republican prospects in Texas ahead of November.

The House was reported in the interview to be scheduled to take up both the war powers-related measure and a DHS funding bill later the same day.