President Donald Trump met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday to build support for the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a large legislative package that advances his agenda.
The meeting, held at the White House, included members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is responsible for key tax policy elements such as extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after the meeting that Republicans are united in their effort to pass the bill, calling it a “team effort” to get the legislation across the finish line.
Earlier in the day, Senate Republicans held a closed-door conference to discuss the bill and hear from committee chairs about proposed changes. Senators acknowledged that the bill is not finalized and expressed a desire to improve on the version passed by the House. Senator John Cornyn said Republicans want to make the bill better but are not near a final agreement yet.
The House-passed bill boosts military and border security spending while cutting Medicaid, SNAP, and other assistance programs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
Some Senate Republicans, including Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, have criticized the bill’s cost and called for deeper spending cuts. Johnson described the bill as “completely unsustainable” and plans to hold hearings before a Senate vote.
President Trump has been actively lobbying senators, including making phone calls and holding meetings with key Republicans like John Thune, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Rick Scott. Thune emphasized the narrow margin Republicans have in the Senate, noting they can only afford to lose three GOP votes to pass the bill. He said the president is the key to securing the necessary votes.
Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk publicly criticized the bill on social media, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” Some senators expressed frustration with Musk’s comments, asking for constructive feedback rather than broad criticism.
Senator Thom Tillis urged Musk to provide actionable suggestions, while Senator Tommy Tuberville acknowledged Musk’s concerns but noted senators must balance positives and negatives in the bill.
Thune concluded that passing the bill will be challenging but insisted, “failure is not an option.” The Senate will continue working through details and negotiations in the coming weeks to meet President Trump’s July 4 deadline.
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