Trump declares victory as Big Beautiful Bill clears first Senate hurdle... and fires brutal warning at Republican rebel
President Donald Trump issued a victorious message as his Big Beautiful Bill cleared its first Senate hurdle after issuing a brutal warning to a Republican rebel who tried to block its passage.
The landmark package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds progressed on Saturday night following a four-hour negotiation period led by Vice President JD Vance, who rushed into the Capitol to get the bill over the line.
It will now face an intense period of debating and amendments, before it is sent back to the House to vote on it again. Trump wants the bill passed through both chambers and on his desk to sign by July 4.
'Tonight we saw a GREAT VICTORY in the Senate with the GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,' Trump posted on Truth Social.
He singled out three Republican Senators - Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming - who held off on voting until the last minute, praising them for ultimately agreeing to debate the bill.
Trump also praised Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who initially voted 'No' but changed his decision at the last moment to give Trump the numbers he needed to clinch victory.
But Trump was furious earlier in the evening that it got so close at all, launching an apoplectic rant toward Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who had earlier voted against progressing the bill.
Trump has vowed to meet with other contenders to run against Tillis for the Republican nomination in the battleground state of North Carolina ahead of next year's election.
'He loves China made windmills that will cost a fortune, ruin the landscape, and produce the most expensive Energy on Earth,' Trump had earlier said.
'North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself.'
While Trump ultimately was victorious, he did not secure the resounding backing of his party that had hoped for and several lawmakers may still ultimately withhold their support when it comes time to vote on the bill itself.
'Republicans must remember that they are fighting against a very evil, corrupt and, in many ways, incompetent (Policywise!) group of people,' Trump warned.
The vote should have taken no more than 15 minutes, but dragged into a four-hour nailbiter.
Vice President JD Vance rushed in to act as a voice of reason and get holdouts over the line. If it came down to it, Vance would have provided the tiebreaking vote to secure the Trump administration's victory.
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