TRUMP BERATES GOP LAWMAKERS OVER OPPOSITION TO 'BIG BEAUTIFUL' BILL!

CALITODAY (May 20, 2025): On Tuesday, President Trump applied pressure on House Republicans to support the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), which encompasses key elements of his agenda, during a rare visit to Capitol Hill.

He clarified lawmakers' positions on several major sticking points in the bill, leading to a series of last-minute negotiations that leaders hope will culminate in the bill's passage by the weekend.

Trump urged moderate Republicans from blue states to abandon their fight over the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and warned members not to "mess with Medicaid" as some lawmakers considered changes to the program.The Daily Beast+4WSJ+4POLITICO+4

"There was love in that room. No shouting," Trump told reporters after the meeting. "I think it was a love fest. And there were a few things we spoke about specifically that some people felt a little differently about. Not a big deal."

The OBBB has faced numerous obstacles in the House as different factions within the conference clash over priorities. Deficit hawks have pushed for changes to avoid increasing debt, while moderates seek to raise the SALT cap.Barron's

A White House official said Trump made it clear during the meeting that he is losing patience with all opposing factions within the House Republican conference, including the SALT Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus, emphasizing that every Republican should vote "Yes."

Trump's main request to the conference was not to let SALT derail the bill, arguing that Republicans could fight for SALT later; not to touch Medicaid except to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, specifically by removing illegal immigrants and establishing reasonable work requirements; and to unite and complete the bill, a White House official told The Hill.

The President told Republican lawmakers in the closed-door meeting to "leave SALT aside," arguing that concerns over this provision should not hinder the bill's passage. He indicated support for increasing the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $30,000 for anyone earning $400,000 or less—a proposal currently in the bill that SALT Caucus members have opposed.

He specifically targeted Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who has advocated for more significant changes to the SALT deduction.

"I understand your district better than you do," Trump told Lawler, according to a source. "If you lose because of SALT, you were going to lose anyway."Time

Lawler maintained his position immediately after Trump's remarks, stating he was "not budging."Time

Later in the day, after meetings of the SALT Caucus in the Speaker's office, Lawler said GOP leaders had made "an improved offer" to SALT Caucus members, and lawmakers were awaiting a cost estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation.

"We're waiting for more information, but we've made progress," Rep. Lawler said.

Trump also firmly opposed major changes to Medicaid. "Don't mess with Medicaid," Trump told lawmakers in the private meeting.

Trump told reporters before the meeting that the bill does not cut "anything meaningful" and instead focuses on "waste, fraud, and abuse." He also expressed concern that migrants are receiving Medicaid benefits.Time

Hardline conservatives had mixed reactions to the President's push.The Daily Beast

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who has advocated for more changes to Medicaid, seemed unmoved by Trump's message as of Tuesday evening.

"I don't think the President has convinced enough people that the bill is sufficient as it stands," Harris said after the meeting.

Later in the day, Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.)—another Freedom Caucus member who was among four hardline conservatives who blocked a key House Budget Committee vote on the bill last week—said he was "very optimistic" about the negotiations.

"We're getting closer," Brecheen said, adding that Trump's move against the SALT Caucus—their preferred proposal would significantly increase the bill's deficit cost—had been helpful.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has consistently opposed the House plan to use Medicaid cuts to fund the large partisan bill, said on social media platform X, "I hope Republicans in Congress are listening" after hearing Trump say Republicans should leave Medicaid alone.

The bill includes major reforms to Medicaid that are estimated to cause millions to lose coverage by 2034. The bill would require states to implement work requirements for childless adults aged 19 to 64 to qualify for the program and seeks to shorten the open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, along with a host of other changes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday that the requirements for "able-bodied" Americans receiving Medicaid to work 20 hours a week are "reasonable provisions."

Trump also told House Republicans not to "be stupid about the debt ceiling," urging them to pass a four-year extension rather than a two-year one, a source told The Hill.

The current bill includes plans to raise the national debt ceiling by $4 trillion, which would likely last about two and a half years, as the Treasury Department warns the government risks defaulting on over $36 trillion in the coming months.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has consistently opposed deficit-increasing legislation, also angered Trump on Tuesday.

"I don't think Thomas Massie understands government," Trump told reporters before the meeting. "Frankly, I think he's a showboat. I think he should be voted out."

Trump's trip to Capitol Hill underscores that Republicans are entering a critical phase with the reconciliation package, which includes key parts of Trump's agenda on taxes, border funding, and spending.Business Insider

The President has been in regular contact with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) throughout the process. He has hosted lawmakers at the White House, spoken with them by phone, and lobbied Republicans on Truth Social to support the package.

If Trump can persuade any hesitant lawmakers, it would be valuable for GOP leadership, given the extremely narrow margin in the House. Republicans can afford only a few defections while still passing the bill in a party-line vote.

After the meeting, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) said he thought Trump might have changed some minds.

"He had them all laughing for 30 minutes," he said—including when he used profanity while discussing leaving Medicaid alone.

President Trump on Tuesday urged moderate Republicans to "forget about SALT," but appeared not to win their support.

Republican Representatives from New York Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, and Andrew Garbarino said they voted "no" on the package after Tuesday morning's meeting.

SALT has become one of the biggest sticking points in Republicans' efforts to advance Trump's OBBB.

Speaking at a GOP conference meeting at the Capitol for over an hour on Tuesday morning, Trump made it clear during the meeting that he is losing patience with all opposing factions within the conference, according to the White House.

A host of Trump administration officials were also present on Capitol Hill during Budget or Oversight committee hearings. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to testify before two Senate panels following Trump's Monday conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the escalation of Israel's attack on Gaza. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were also scheduled to testify before various committees.