Exclusive / Trump adviser warns time running out on crypto bill

The following partial transcript of Semafor’s interview with Patrick Witt, executive director of Trump’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, has been edited for length and clarity.

Eleanor Mueller: What do you see as the biggest hurdle to passage right now?

Patrick Witt: There are active discussions happening on all of the issues. I spent a lot of my time on the Hill visiting with different Senate offices that have expressed reservations or concerns, trying to resolve those or see if there’s any kind of legislative fixes that can be made to their satisfaction. So I’m optimistic about Sept. 15. It’s obviously a procedural vote. So we’re communicating to folks that even if we can’t necessarily make the change right up front on the front end, the way that you ultimately address the concern that you have is by getting on the bill and then working through the amendment process to get something in there to resolve their concern.

We’ve seen a lot of reporting in the last couple of months, not just about Democrats who continue to have concerns with the bill, but Republicans too. What’s your whip count right now?

I think it’s going to be very strong. If not all 53 Republicans, I think you’re going to be right at that number. So I feel very good about where Republicans are.