The big, beautiful bill is in its final push in the Senate, and things are not going quite as smoothly as President Donald Trump has hoped.
Some of the top policies were cut from the bill by the Senate parliamentarian, and not every Republican is on board in the upper chamber. In addition, the House is voicing objections to some of the changes made, so passage is far from automatic.
Now, if the bill does not pass, Trump is threatening a massive tax increase to pay for the programs he wants to fund via this bill.
The House Freedom Caucus warned senators that if they made significant changes to the initial version of the legislation, the bill would not get through the lower chamber when it is returned.
Well, the Senate did make changes, and the Freedom Caucus is not happy about it at all.
The Caucus wrote, “The Senate’s version adds $651 billion to the deficit -- and that’s before interest costs, which nearly double the total.”
The post continued, “That’s not fiscal responsibility. It’s not what we agreed to. The Senate must make major changes and should at least be in the ballpark of compliance with the agreed upon House budget framework. Republicans must do better.”
Elon Musk also renewed his attacks on the legislation, going rabid Monday on social media.
He posted, “Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
Musk even suggested starting a new party, insinuating that the GOP and Democratic Party are effectively a uniparty.
He posted, “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country -- the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
Trump has now resorted to using the bad word if his bill does not get passed... taxes. Trump stated, "Republicans, the One Big Beautiful Bill, perhaps the greatest and most important of its kind in history, gives the largest Tax Cuts and Border Security ever, Jobs by the Millions, Military/Vets increases, and so much more. The failure to pass means a whopping 68% Tax increase, the largest in history!!!”
The president also responded to Musk, posting, "Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one."
Trump continued, “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!"
At one point, it looked like Congress might be able to deliver this bill to Trump’s desk by July 4, but it now appears my gut was right because even if the Senate gets this bill sent over to the House, there is now a significant contingent of Republicans who will not support it. Trump wanted the bill on his desk for Independence Day, but I just don’t see it happening.