In a stunning turn of events, the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s signature “Big Beautiful Bill” on Thursday, shattering widespread media predictions of failure.
According to the Daily Caller, in a swift legislative victory, the bill met Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline and now awaits his final approval after the House accepted the Senate’s version.
The journey to this point began earlier in the week when the Senate passed its version of the bill on Tuesday. This set the stage for the House to take up the measure with only days to spare before Trump’s target date. Despite the tight timeline, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Trump himself played pivotal roles in rallying support.
Media outlets had been vocal about their doubts regarding the bill’s chances of success by July 4. Publications like Axios, Politico, and The Washington Post highlighted potential roadblocks, including GOP dissent and the complexity of aligning House and Senate versions.
One report from Axios by Natalie Daher noted, “The House and Senate will have to resolve their different versions and negotiate a unified version of the bill.” Daher added, “(Or the House could accept the Senate’s changes wholesale and move to a final vote — which is unlikely.)” Contrary to such forecasts, the House did exactly that, opting to pass the Senate’s draft without further amendments. This decision expedited the process, ensuring the legislation reached Trump’s desk ahead of schedule.
Politico also weighed in on the tight timeline, stating, “He wants it on his desk by July 4 — just one week from today.” Another piece from Politico’s Playbook by Adam Wren expressed even stronger skepticism about the bill’s prospects.
Wren wrote, “Just one tiny problem with that: ‘Republicans’ ‘big, beautiful bill’ is in tatters,’ as our colleagues at POLITICO’s Inside Congress newsletter write this morning.” He continued, “Yes, technically, there’s still a path to meet that self-imposed deadline. But ‘technically’ and ‘likely’ are two very different things.”
Despite such dire predictions, the bill’s supporters managed to prove the doubters wrong with a narrow but decisive victory. The Washington Post also cautioned about potential delays, emphasizing the rocky history of similar legislative efforts.
The Post reported, “[T]he bill will head for a final approval by the end of the week. The process sounds swift — it is not.” It added, “It can be delayed at numerous junctures by bands of holdouts.”
The piece further noted, “There have been several moments in Johnson’s speakership when bills appeared to be moving along smoothly only to be waylaid and subject to frantic renegotiation.” In this case, however, the process moved forward with surprising speed, despite some notable obstacles during the House proceedings. One such hurdle was an eight-hour display of opposition by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who sought to derail the bill’s momentum. Yet, even this extended episode of grandstanding failed to prevent the bill from advancing to a final vote.
Behind the scenes, Johnson, Thune, and Trump worked tirelessly to address concerns from various Republican factions. Fiscal conservatives and members of the House Freedom Caucus were among those whose apprehensions needed to be eased. Trump, described as an ever-present influence, was instrumental in unifying the party around the legislation. Their combined efforts paid off when the House voted 218-214 in favor of the bill on Thursday.
Only two Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, broke ranks to vote against it. They joined House Democrats in opposition, but their dissent was not enough to block the bill’s passage.
The narrow margin of victory underscored the challenges faced by Republican leadership in maintaining party cohesion. Yet, it also highlighted their ability to overcome internal divisions and external skepticism at a critical moment. The decision to adopt the Senate’s version without changes was a strategic move that avoided prolonged negotiations. This approach ensured that Trump’s deadline of July 4 was not only met but achieved with time to spare.
Now, with the bill on his desk, Trump is poised to sign it into law, marking a significant legislative achievement. This outcome stands as a testament to the determination of the bill’s proponents in the face of widespread doubt.