President Donald Trump celebrated the progress that his Big Beautiful Bill Act made through the Senate on Saturday night.
As of Sunday morning, the bill was still being read aloud word for word by clerks on the Senate floor. After that, each party will have up to 10 hours to plead its case for the legislation’s future. Trump gave Congress the deadline of July 4 to pass it, allowing time for the House to give the final stamp of approval.
“VERY PROUD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TONIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!” Trump said on Truth Social shortly after Senate Republicans voted 51-49 to advance the bill. Then, Trump shouted out senators who were previously against the legislation.
“Tonight we saw a GREAT VICTORY in the Senate with the ‘GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,’ but, it wouldn’t have happened without the Fantastic Work of Senator Rick Scott, Senator Mike Lee, Senator Ron Johnson, and Senator Cynthia Lummis,” Trump said. “They, along with all of the other Republican Patriots who voted for the Bill, are people who truly love our Country!”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told reporters following his vote that Senate leadership had committed to an amendment from Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) that would limit Medicaid reimbursements for states that expanded the entitlement under Obamacare. The amendment would still have to go to a vote before the Senate.
Many initially criticized the legislation as it passed in the House. Those who publicly expressed their opposition included Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Josh Hawley (R-MO). In the end, all but Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted for the Big Beautiful Bill Act to progress in the chamber.
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Tillis’s vote angered Trump. The president already criticized Paul because he “votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas.” After Tillis voted against advancing the bill, Trump announced he would meet with primary challengers for his seat.
Still, the North Carolina senator held his ground. Tillis said the legislation would result in “devastating” changes to Medicaid and suggested the bill legislate the service as it was written by the House when it passed.