President Donald Trump hosted a White House celebration Thursday afternoon to rally Republicans behind his sweeping tax and spending legislation, hours after the Senate parliamentarian dealt a blow to the package by rejecting key Medicaid provisions that Republicans were counting on to help pay for trillions in tax cuts.
The "One Big, Beautiful Event" in the East Room featured Trump alongside delivery drivers, law enforcement officers, and other workers who the administration says would benefit from the bill's provisions, including no taxes on tips and overtime pay. The president urged attendees to pressure lawmakers, saying "call your senators, call your congressman, we have to get the vote," according to Spectrum Local News.
The celebration came as Senate Republicans faced a major hurdle when the parliamentarian advised that a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to the bill does not comply with budget reconciliation rules1. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, said the ineligible spending cuts amounted to $250 billion2.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the ruling as "part of the process" and maintained that Trump remains "adamant about seeing this bill on his desk here at the White House by Independence Day"23. However, Republicans had been counting on substantial cuts to Medicaid and other programs to offset the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts1.
The House passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" by a single vote, 215-214, in May12. The legislation would extend expiring provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, increase defense spending by $150 billion, and fund Trump's deportation agenda34.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt by 2034, though the White House disputes this analysis25. The package would provide tax breaks ranging from $500 to $1,500 for middle-income earners, while the wealthiest households would see increases of $12,000, according to the CBO6.
Some House Republicans have expressed concerns about the Senate version. Representative Chip Roy of Texas posted on social media that he "would not vote for it as it is" if rumors about Senate changes prove true7. With narrow majorities in both chambers, Republicans can afford few defections.
Border czar Tom Homan, speaking at Thursday's event, called the legislation a "no-brainer" and asked, "What the hell is the matter with everybody up in Congress," according to Spectrum Local News8.