Trump Urges Republicans to Unite on Budget Bill Amidst Growing Tensions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump met with House Republicans on Tuesday in a bid to finalize support for a contentious budget reconciliation bill aimed at passing by the end of the week.

During a meeting, Trump appealed to both moderate and conservative factions within the party to ease their demands. He expressed frustration with members who threaten to derail the legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Trump described the gathering as a “pep talk” but warned he may use his influence against those blocking the bill.

Despite Trump’s efforts, some attendees remained unconvinced. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced optimism that progress was being made, stating, “We’re still finalizing things, but it’s not going to be a heavy lift.” Negotiations continued into the night, with the House Rules Committee scheduled to convene at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Trump confronted conservative lawmakers pushing for deeper cuts to Medicaid. “Don’t f— around with Medicaid,” he reportedly stated, emphasizing his intent to eliminate waste rather than drastically cut the program. Provisions in the GOP plan could leave an estimated 7.6 million people uninsured.

Additionally, Trump urged Republicans from blue states not to allow their insistence on increasing the SALT deduction to jeopardize the bill. Some New York Republicans pushed back, insisting that further negotiations were necessary to provide tax relief for their middle-class constituents.

The GOP faces a tight deadline and can afford to lose only three votes in the House for the bill to pass. The Congressional Budget Office has suggested that the proposed changes could result in 10 million more people lacking health insurance by 2034.

In a related development, Trump announced the selection of a design for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, with $25 billion earmarked for initial funding within the Republican budget package. This project aims to enhance U.S. defense capabilities and could involve advanced technologies. Trump asserted, “We can afford to do it,” referring to investments he claims the U.S. will receive from Middle Eastern countries.