President Donald Trump hailed the passage of his “Big, Beautiful Bill” following a marathon four-hour vote in the Senate that will now allow the measure to advance for debate.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who notably changed his vote from ‘no’ to ‘yes,’ stated that the massive bill represents a “necessary first step” toward fiscal sustainability and addressing the challenges left by the Biden administration.
“Biden and the Democrats left behind enormous messes that we are trying to clean up – an open border, wars, and massive deficits,” Johnson said. “After working for weeks with President Trump and his highly capable economic team, I am convinced that he views this as a necessary first step and will support my efforts to help put America on a path to fiscal sustainability.”
The vote was largely 51-49 along party lines, with only Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) opposing the start of a marathon 20-hour debate on the bill. Republicans have a 53-47 seat majority in the chamber.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform following the vote to criticize the two Republicans for voting no.
“Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina. Even on the catastrophic flooding, nothing was done to help until I took office. Then a MIRACLE took place! Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER! He’s even worse than Rand ‘Fauci’ Paul!” Trump wrote.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) claimed the measure is “radical.”
“Senate Republicans are scrambling to pass a radical bill, released to the public in the dead of night, praying the American people don’t realize what’s in it,” he said in a statement. “If Senate Republicans won’t tell the American people what’s in this bill, then Democrats are going to force this chamber to read it from start to finish.”
Schumer is delaying debate on the measure after instructing members of his team to read the entire 940-page measure on the floor of the chamber, which will take up to 15 hours.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) shared a video on her X account, saying that Democrats were holding the floor “all night” and emphasized the need to “use every single second we can to fight back against Trump’s bill.”
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., however, said he was “proud” to work with Trump on the bill and “put our nation on a path to balance the budget after years of Democrats’ reckless spending.”
“We will deliver on President Trump’s agenda and continue Making America Great Again!” Scott wrote.
Trump has stated that he wants the bill, which must first pass the Senate before moving to the House for a vote, on his desk by July 4. After the Senate vote, he hailed it as a “great victory” and specifically praised Sens. Johnson, Scott, Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“They, along with all of the other Republican Patriots who voted for the Bill, are people who truly love our Country!” Trump wrote. “As President of the USA, I am proud of them all, and look forward to working with them to GROW OUR ECONOMY, REDUCE WASTEFUL SPENDING, SECURE OUR BORDER, FIGHT FOR OUR MILITARY/VETS, ENSURE THAT OUR MEDICAID SYSTEM HELPS THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT, PROTECT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT, AND SO MUCH MORE. GOD BLESS AMERICA &, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, released a statement calling the legislation “significant,” and “soon we will vote to send it over to the House and on to President Trump’s desk to become law.”
“Senate Republicans are one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s agenda by advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will avoid a massive tax increase on Texas families, secure our southern border, remove burdensome taxes on Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights, and chart our country on a path toward fiscal sanity after years of frivolous spending in Washington under Joe Biden,” Cornyn said.