President Trump urges Republicans to unify behind his sweeping bill, warning against delays and intraparty divisions.

Trump Presses GOP Ahead of Key Vote

President Donald Trump made a rare in-person appeal on Capitol Hill this week, delivering what he described as a "meeting of love" to House Republicans in an attempt to rally them behind his sweeping legislative proposal, dubbed the "big, beautiful bill." The legislation combines tax reform, immigration, defense spending, energy policy, and changes to the national debt, and is expected to go to a House-wide vote within days.

“We have a very, very united party,” Trump told reporters, standing beside House Speaker Mike Johnson. “This man has done a fantastic job. He's a real unifier.” Trump emphasized that the bill does not cut Medicare or Medicaid, except to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse."

However, unity within the Republican conference remains elusive. Factions are clashing over provisions affecting Medicaid and the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps. Conservatives want tighter Medicaid requirements, while moderates—particularly from high-tax states like New York—seek a higher cap on SALT deductions. Trump warned Republicans not to “f--- around” with Medicaid or SALT, according to sources inside the closed-door meeting.

SALT and Medicaid Remain Flashpoints

Representative Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., a vocal advocate for SALT relief, pushed back against Trump’s comments. “I made very clear when I ran for office that I would never support a tax bill that does not adequately lift the cap on SALT,” he said. The cap, introduced in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, limits deductions to $10,000. GOP leadership had offered to raise it to $30,000, but SALT Caucus members argue that is not enough.

Meanwhile, members of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding stronger Medicaid reforms, including faster implementation of work requirements for able-bodied adults and changes in cost-sharing to shift more responsibility to states. Trump, however, reportedly urged lawmakers to focus on rooting out waste, not expanding cuts.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., another holdout, was publicly called a “grandstander” by Trump. Massie responded by defending his stance and questioning whether Trump genuinely supports spending cuts. “I don't think he wants to talk about cutting spending,” he said.

Bill Faces Procedural and Political Hurdles

The House Rules Committee is expected to meet after midnight to finalize the bill's language before it proceeds to the floor. Some Republicans, including Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, suggested the vote be delayed to allow more negotiations. Others believe the bill is ready and that pushing for additional changes would jeopardize its passage.

Trump’s legislation is advancing under budget reconciliation, a process that allows bills impacting the federal budget to pass with a simple majority in the Senate—bypassing Democratic filibusters. House Republicans aim to deliver the final version to Trump’s desk by the Fourth of July.

Still, the bill’s fate is uncertain. While Trump’s direct intervention underscores its importance to his administration, the divided GOP will need to overcome internal rifts quickly to meet the ambitious timeline.