Today's News: Trump Pressures GOP to Back Sweeping Domestic Policy Bill

While some Republicans appeared swayed, others remained unmoved, making the bill’s passage uncertain as Speaker Mike Johnson pushes for a vote before Memorial Day.

Terrence Dorsey

May 20, 2025

Photo: Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Date: May 20, 2025
Topic: Trump Pressures GOP to Back Sweeping Domestic Policy Bill
Summary: President Trump visited Capitol Hill to pressure House Republicans into supporting his expansive domestic policy bill, which includes extensions to the 2017 tax cuts, Medicaid reforms, and a SALT deduction cap increase. The bill faces internal GOP resistance from both fiscal conservatives seeking deeper spending cuts and moderates demanding more generous SALT provisions. Trump issued veiled threats to political holdouts while simultaneously urging unity. While some Republicans appeared swayed, others remained unmoved, making the bill’s passage uncertain as Speaker Mike Johnson pushes for a vote before Memorial Day.

Sources

Key Points

Trump personally lobbied House Republicans to pass the bill, tying its success to GOP unity and warning dissenters they could face primary challenges.
The bill includes tax cut extensions, military and border security spending, Medicaid reforms, and repeals of climate tax credits.
Conservatives want deeper Medicaid cuts and earlier implementation of work requirements. Moderates seek higher SALT deduction caps for constituents in high-tax states.
Trump’s comments focused on preventing “messing around” with Medicaid and told moderates to “let it go” on SALT.
Speaker Mike Johnson aims to hold a floor vote before Memorial Day, needing near-unanimous Republican support.

Unique Highlights

CNN noted that Trump had not previously been personally involved in whipping votes but used the meeting to deliver a blunt message: “Don’t f**k around with Medicaid.”
NBC News reported that Rep. Mike Lawler, a key SALT advocate, was singled out by Trump, who told him to “end it” on SALT.
Fox News provided insight from Rep. Thomas Massie, who said Trump called him out eight times during the meeting and predicted some would fold under Trump’s pressure.
The Wall Street Journal added that Johnson offered to raise the SALT cap to $40,000 in a last-minute proposal.
The Washington Post described Trump threatening that dissenters would “be knocked out” of the Republican Party.

Contrasting Details

While Trump emphasized party unity and downplayed opposition, multiple outlets reported that core disagreements remain unresolved.
Massie and other conservatives argue the bill worsens the deficit; Trump and leadership claim it's fiscally responsible by targeting “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Moderates like Lawler and LaLota insist SALT concessions are non-negotiable, whereas Trump dismissed SALT as a favor to blue-state Democrats.
Fox News and The Wall Street Journal highlighted divergent interpretations of Trump’s Medicaid remarks: some saw it as a green light for cuts, others as a hard stop.

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