President Donald Trump cautioned fiscal hawks in the Senate GOP not to go “too crazy” on any reductions to the spending in his “big, beautiful bill,” as a 20-hour debate on the bill has begun.
Trump, deeming himself a “cost cutting Republican” as well, even as his massive tax bill is projected to raise the deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, said any spending in the bill will be offset “times 10” with “GROWTH.”
“For all cost cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy! We will make it all up, times 10, with GROWTH, more than ever before,” the president posted on Truth Social late Sunday.
Trump’s advice to fiscal hawks comes after several, including Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), had to receive concessions to vote “yes” on a key procedural vote for the “big, beautiful bill” late last night.
The Senate ended up advancing the megabill to the floor debate, overcoming the procedural hurdle by a vote of 51-49, a vote count they hope to replicate in order to pass it back to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Two fiscal hawks, however, could not be persuaded to vote for the bill, specifically Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rand Paul (R-NC). Tillis’s primary concern with it is about changes to Medicaid, while Paul has been vocally against the $5 trillion debt ceiling increase included in the the bill text.
After learning of Tillis’s “no” vote last night, Trump targeted the North Carolina senator, going so far as saying he would be meeting with potential primary challengers for 2026.
Ultimately, that threat was seemingly heeded by Tillis, who announced his retirement from the Senate on Sunday afternoon, citing “the political theatre and partisan gridlock” in Washington, D.C., as his main reason.
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Trump cheered that news late Sunday in a short Truth Social post.
“Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection,” the president posted.