President Donald J. Trump, currently serving his second term in office, made a strong appeal to House Republicans on Tuesday to unite behind his sweeping legislative agenda — dubbed the “big, beautiful bill.” However, his efforts fell short as divisions persisted within the GOP, particularly among hard-line conservatives and moderate Republicans from high-tax blue states.
During a nearly two-hour meeting in the Capitol basement, Trump urged Republicans to rally around the bill ahead of Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) Memorial Day deadline. But according to members present, Trump was unable to shift enough opinions to secure passage.
“The president, I don’t think, convinced enough people that the bill is adequate the way it is,” said Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus. “I can’t support it the way it is right now. We’re still a long way off.”
Trump emphasized the need to avoid major cuts to Medicaid, telling lawmakers not to “mess with Medicaid,” even as conservatives demanded deeper reductions in social programs. Meanwhile, moderate Republicans — particularly from states like New York and New Jersey — remained firm on their demand for changes to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap.
“While I respect the president, I’m not budging on it,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), a leading member of the SALT Caucus.
The bill currently includes a $30,000 SALT deduction cap for individuals earning under $400,000, a figure proposed by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.). Several lawmakers dismissed it as a nonstarter.
“If they put a bill on the floor and it doesn’t have the [SALT] fix, I’m not sure it passes,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.). “There are still Medicaid and SNAP [food stamp] problems with people.”
Speaker Johnson remains optimistic, stating, “Failure is simply not an option. I think President Trump could be the most consequential president of the modern era, and this Congress could be one of the most consequential in history.”
Despite the resistance, there were small signs of movement. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), initially a firm “no,” softened his tone after Trump’s remarks, calling it “one of the best speeches I’ve heard.”
Other GOP members, like Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), expressed cautious support, emphasizing the need for economic growth but citing ongoing concerns about healthcare fraud and fiscal accountability.
Still, skepticism remains strong among fiscal conservatives. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a longtime critic of growing federal debt, said, “It’s too late to convince me.” Even so, he acknowledged Trump’s influence, saying, “I predict that the president persuaded the Freedom Caucus and the blue-state Republicans to give up their fights and go along.”
Whether Trump’s forceful pitch will be enough to unify the GOP remains uncertain. But with the clock ticking toward Johnson’s deadline, all eyes are now on Capitol Hill.