President Donald Trump’s $3.3 trillion “One Big Beautiful Bill” has officially cleared Congress, surviving a tense standoff in the House that saw only two Republicans defect.
Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania were the lone GOP lawmakers to vote against Trump’s signature legislation, even as House Speaker Mike Johnson could only afford to lose three votes.
The rest of the Republican conference held firm, delivering a win that sends the bill to Trump’s desk ahead of the July 4 deadline.
Massie dug in early
Massie’s opposition was never in doubt. While he voted to advance the bill procedurally, he consistently opposed the package over debt concerns and government spending.
“Trump reaches out every day on Twitter, reaching out with a million dollars of ads in my district with a picture of me and the Ayatollah,” Massie said sarcastically.
“So, that’s the only sort of reaching out I’ve seen so far.”
The Kentucky libertarian had already drawn Trump’s ire in the past and was among the few conservatives unmoved by the president’s lobbying.
Trump didn’t name him directly but took to Truth Social late Wednesday with a warning:
“MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!”
Trump had previously threatened Massie with a primary challenger, just as he did to Senator Thom Tillis, before Tillis announced his retirement.
Still, White House officials said Trump did not issue any direct threats this time, trusting lawmakers to understand the strength of the MAGA movement.
“They want his political power to be used for their benefit,” one official said.
Fitzpatrick flips over Senate changes
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick didn’t publicly announce his opposition until just minutes before the final vote.
Though he claimed to support much of the bill — including middle-class tax cuts, military spending, and border security investments — he said Senate amendments to Medicaid provisions weakened protections for his district.
“The original House language was written in a way that protected our community,” Fitzpatrick said.
“The Senate amendments fell short of our standard.”
Fitzpatrick also voted against the procedural rule — the only Republican to do so — signaling his resistance early on.
GOP unity prevails
Despite pressure from both conservatives wary of spending and moderates fearing backlash over safety-net cuts, Republicans delivered the votes.
A marathon floor session and extended vote kept tensions high, but in the end, Trump’s influence and Speaker Johnson’s persistence held the party together.
With the legislation now heading to the White House, Trump is expected to sign it in a patriotic ceremony on July 4, marking the passage of one of the largest tax and spending bills in American history.
