Trump's Shutdown Gamble: What's Really At Stake for the GOP in the Latest Showdown

Washington (CNN) — Speaker Mike Johnson needed to convince former President Donald Trump that a shutdown could hurt their party on Election Day even as the Republican presidential nominee was itching for a fight with Democrats over cracking down on immigration and border control policies.

Johnson, who has been walking a tightrope in managing his party's hardline stance on budget and immigration, faced an uphill battle in preventing a government shutdown that would have had far-reaching consequences for the country.

As the shutdown threat loomed large, Johnson engaged in marathon negotiations with the White House and key lawmakers to reach a budget deal that would appease both Trump and his party's key Democratic counterparts.

Despite their best efforts, the real fight within the party is far from over. Republicans are bracing themselves for an inevitable showdown that could divide their party and have lasting implications for the upcoming presidential elections.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Johnson's team has been tracking the president's increasingly erratic behavior, particularly his desire to engage in high-stakes confrontations with Democrats over contentious policy issues.

While Trump has been urged to hold his fire and opt for a more measured approach, his camp believes that a fierce confrontation with Democrats could help galvanize his base ahead of next year's election.

The looming question is how Johnson can continue to find ways to placate Trump while keeping the rest of his party in line. If he fails to find a solution, it could very well lead to a damaging divide within the GOP that could ultimately decide the fate of their party in the next election.

What Johnson's team needs to figure out is how to contain Trump's unpredictability long enough to establish a cohesive election strategy for the party.

The latest developments highlight the larger difficulties involved in governing with a president who appears determined to disrupt the status quo at every opportunity. But they also emphasize Johnson's dogged determination to hold things together despite these obstacles.

Johnson sees the defeat of a shutdown as just the opening salvo in the long, contentious battle to come. Over the coming weeks and months, the tension between Johnson's practicalities and Trump's bold ambitions will continue to escalate, placing the future of the party hanging precariously in the balance.

Washington insiders are keenly aware of the enormous risks at play and the unpredictable nature of the Trump presidency. But they also know that a viable conservative alternative can only be developed from within.

Johnson is seen as a catalyst for change, but his commitment to making that change happen, without incurring the wrath of Trump, will test his fortitude to the limit.