U.S. President Donald Trump failed Tuesday in his goal of uniting House Republicans by being unable to convince all members of his party to support his controversial plan for budget cuts and tax reductions.
The president went to Congress to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers after some voted against his budget bill in committee, causing it to remain blocked until Monday, when it advanced again.
Trump told the media afterward that it had been “a great meeting” and “one of unity and love.” However, he drew criticism by saying he would “consider any Republican who didn’t support him [on the bill] a fool.“
Trump appeared to be referring to fellow Republicans, especially those on the party’s conservative wing, who remain reluctant to support the plan he has dubbed “the big, beautiful bill.”
Texas lawmaker Chip Roy, one of those who blocked the initiative in Congress last Friday, wrote on X that while he’s working “to advance the agenda the president is promoting,” he doesn’t believe the bill “is exactly where it needs to be.”
“We need to extend the Trump tax cuts, but we also need to comply with the spending restrictions… I think Congress can do a better job,” he added.
Along the same lines, Thomas Massie of Kentucky told reporters that he still opposes the bill and that, at present, there’s nothing that would move him to change it.
Likewise, Mike Lawler, a Republican representative from New York, called the offer insufficient and maintained his “no” vote on the bill, though he expressed interest in continuing discussions.
The main reason Lawler, like others, opposes it is because it calls for raising the limit on deductions for citizens from state and local taxes (SALT). Some members of the party’s conservative the Freedom Caucus also oppose it, saying it doesn’t go far enough in cutting spending.
Legislator Andy Biggs explained it this way after the meeting:
“There is a lot in our federal government that gives us room to cut spending,” he said.
Another of the most controversial points is Medicaid health coverage, an issue that divides the centrist and conservative wings of the party. Some generally call for more aggressive and immediate cuts, while moderates are concerned about the impact these could have on their districts.
Trump attempted to ease the debate by saying he would exclude only “immigrants with multiple backgrounds” from Medicaid, not American workers, claiming the plan would save them money by lowering drug prices “by 85%.”
Lawmakers have held marathon sessions to advance the bill and secure its approval before Memorial Day, May 26, with the goal of getting it signed into law by the symbolic date of July 4th, American Independence Day.
If all Democrats vote against the bill, as they are expected to do, Trump can only afford to accept a “no” vote from three of his party members due to his narrow majority in the House. The bill would then continue its course in the Senate, where Republicans also hold sway.