Trump Heads to Capitol Hill to Unite Divided GOP on Tax Bill/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump visits Capitol Hill to rally Republicans behind his sweeping tax bill. Internal GOP divisions threaten the multitrillion-dollar proposal. Medicaid, green energy cuts, and soaring debt concerns stall momentum.
Trump Tax Push Quick Looks
- Trump heads to Capitol Hill to support GOP tax overhaul.
- The bill includes deep cuts to Medicaid, food aid, and green energy.
- $3.3 trillion cost projected over 10 years, per watchdog group.
- House Freedom Caucus demands steeper, faster spending cuts.
- GOP moderates seek expanded tax breaks for high-tax states.
- Key vote set for midweek amid razor-thin Republican majority.
- Democrats call it a “giveaway to the wealthy.”
- Trump’s bill eliminates taxes on tips, Social Security, auto interest.
- Medicaid work requirements may start in 2027 instead of 2029.
- Clean energy credits from the Inflation Reduction Act face rollback.
Deep Look: Trump Rallies Republicans on Capitol Hill to Pass ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2025 — President Donald Trump is returning to Capitol Hill in a bid to revive support for his flagship domestic policy initiative, a sweeping tax and spending overhaul dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” With key votes looming, the former dealmaker-in-chief is aiming to wrangle a fractured House GOP behind a multitrillion-dollar package that faces steep opposition—even from within his own party.
The bill, spanning 1,116 pages, represents Trump’s second-term vision for economic policy, combining extended Trump-era tax cuts with new breaks on tips, Social Security benefits, and auto loan interest. It also proposes steep cuts to social safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps, while investing $350 billion in border security, deportation measures, and defense.
But GOP unity is proving elusive.
Trump’s Capitol Hill Visit: A High-Stakes Moment
Trump’s Tuesday morning appearance at the House Republican Conference is timed to jolt negotiations that are faltering. House Speaker Mike Johnson is racing to solidify support ahead of a key committee hearing in the early hours of Tuesday, with a floor vote aimed for Wednesday.
Trump, on social media, has urged Republicans to “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE.” Yet lawmakers are voicing concerns over both policy and politics—particularly the bill’s eye-watering cost and its impact on the national debt, now at $36 trillion.
GOP Divisions: Hard-Right vs. Moderates
Hardline conservatives are demanding deeper and faster cuts to offset the bill’s multitrillion-dollar tax reductions. “It’s pretty obvious they’re going to need more time,” said Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), who leads the House Freedom Caucus. “These are complicated issues with trillions of dollars. We’ve got to do this thing right.”
On the other side, moderate Republicans from high-tax states—particularly New York—are pushing for broader state and local tax (SALT) deductions. The current proposal triples the SALT cap from $10,000 to $30,000 for joint filers earning under $400,000, but these lawmakers want deductions as high as $124,000 for couples.
Democratic Opposition: Health and Equity Under Threat
House Democrats are universally opposed to the bill. “They literally are trying to take health care away from millions of Americans at this very moment in the dead of night,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He slammed the planned 1 a.m. hearing as an attempt to avoid public scrutiny.
Democrats argue the bill is a windfall for the wealthy, at the expense of programs serving vulnerable Americans.
Bill Details: Cuts, Credits, and Controversies
Key Tax Provisions Include:
- Permanent extension of 2017 Trump-era tax cuts.
- Increase of standard deduction to $32,000 for joint filers.
- Boosting child tax credit to $2,500.
- Eliminating federal income taxes on tips, Social Security income, and auto loan interest.
Major Spending Cuts Include:
- Medicaid work requirements moved up from 2029 to 2027.
- 7.6 million people projected to lose health coverage under new Medicaid rules (CBO estimate).
- Phase-out of clean energy tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill could add approximately $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, even accounting for proposed offsets.
Conservatives warn that spending reductions are too delayed, allowing deficits to balloon before any fiscal discipline kicks in.
Delicate Balancing Act for Speaker Johnson
Speaker Johnson is trying to keep both factions satisfied, but every change he makes to win hard-right votes risks alienating centrists. Some moderates have already signed letters objecting to aggressive cuts to Medicaid and food aid.
Johnson’s task is further complicated by near-total Democratic resistance, meaning Republicans can only afford a few defections. With the GOP holding a slim majority, every vote matters.
Next Steps: House Vote Then Senate Battle
If the bill clears the House, it faces more hurdles in the Senate, where Republicans are signaling they may propose additional revisions. Trump has said he expects the Senate to “clean up” the bill but warned that any major deviations would face pressure from the White House.
The outcome could shape not only tax and budget policy for the next decade but also the political landscape heading into 2026 midterms.
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