Trump twists House GOP arms on megabill
The bill will provide a $350 billion boost to military and anti-immigration spending and 'cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs'


What happened
President Donald Trump visited House Republicans Tuesday to pressure holdouts on his multitrillion-dollar tax and spending bill, which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to vote on as soon as Wednesday.
Who said what
Trump was "brought in to seal the deal" at a "pivotal moment" as "negotiations are slogging along" on his 1,116-page package of tax cuts, $350 billion boost to military and anti-immigration spending and "cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs," The Associated Press said. His entreaties and arm-twisting "appeared to do little to resolve the rifts that have plagued the measure for weeks," The New York Times said, but Johnson's subsequent "behind-the-scenes negotiations" with restive factions "appeared to have yielded some progress."
The bill's fate could determine whether Trump "regains the momentum he had early in his second administration or sees his agenda stall," The Washington Post said. The "economic and political stakes are enormous," The Wall Street Journal said. If the bill passes, Trump "could take credit for delivering tax cuts ahead of the midterms," but if it falters, voters "could instead be focused on the economic fallout from his trade agenda."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Nonpartisan analysts say the bill could "add $3 trillion to $5 trillion to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt," Reuters said. According to a new Congressional Budget Office estimate, it would also "lead to increased assets for the richest Americans, while reducing them for the lowest-income households," Politico said.
What next?
The House Rules Committee is meeting overnight to finalize the package for a floor vote. If the House passes the legislation, it goes to the Senate.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Will NATO countries meet their new spending goal?
today's big question The cost of keeping Trump happy
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Bibi's back: what will Netanyahu do next?
Today's Big Question Riding high after a series of military victories, Israel's PM could push for peace in Gaza – or secure his own position with snap election